COL. SHEROD HUNTER CAMP 1525, CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY 1999

CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL DAY 1999

Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, Phoenix, Arizona

The 1999 Confederate Memorial Day ceremony hosted by the Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525 at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery was a high point of our Camp's history, and indeed, the crowning achievement of our Camp up to the present time. It was at this ceremony that we dedicated our Arizona Confederate Veterans Monument, which had been recently installed at the cemetery as a result of a major five-year effort by our Camp. It also marked the first (and only) time so far that we got television news coverage for one of our events, when a reporter from Channel 15 (the local ABC affiliate) interviewed Camp Commander Robert Perkins after the event. The ceremony itself was attended by the largest crowd ever to attend any S.C.V. event here in Arizona up to that time (about 80 people, which beat the previous record by over 20 people), and was graced by live music provided by the Southwest Brass (a fine local brass ensemble who played Dixie, the Bonnie Blue Flag, and Taps) as well as Ms. Cindy Brown of the Arizona Civil War Council, who performed a haunting rendition of "The Wearing of the Gray."

COLOUR GUARD

For our 1999 ceremony we had a rather unique Colour Guard, composed of members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War. Carrying the United States Colours (at far left) was Brother Robert Hannan, Camp Picacho Peak, Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War, Phoenix, Arizona. Carrying the Confederate Third National Flag is Compatriot Peter Polley of the Confederate Secret Service Camp 1710, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Sierra Vista, Arizona. Carrying the Confederate First National Flag is Compatriot Tim Payne, also of Camp 1710, SCV. Finally, carrying the Confederate Battle Flag, was Compatriot Larry Billar, Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525, Sons of Confederate Veterans, Phoenix, Arizona. The four are standing behind the new Arizona Confederate Veterans Monument which was dedicated at that year's Confederate Memorial Day ceremony. We were honoured to have the participation of the Sons of Union Veterans in the monument dedication ceremony.

CONFEDERATE VETERANS MONUMENT

A picture of the Arizona Confederate Veterans Monument which was dedicated by the Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525 at the 1999 Confederate Memorial Day ceremony. The Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp successfully raised the money to have this monument installed at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery after a five-year fund-raising effort. Several Camp members made large one-time donations ($100 or more) which went toward the down-payment on the monument, and 4 members each committed to donate $11.00 a month (the monthly pay of a Confederate soldier) to cover the monthly installment payments on the monument. Finally, the Camp held raffles and auctions, sold historical booklets and Confederate flags at various local historical and reenactment events, and solicited one-time donations which enabled the monument to be paid off no less than two years early! It was very gratifying to see our Camp membership pull together around this project, and it was indeed our Camp's finest hour...so far!

PLAYING DIXIE

The 1999 Confederate Memorial Day ceremony at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery was graced by live music, provided by the Southwest Brass, a local brass ensemble. Pictured here, standing at attention as (in the background) the band plays "Dixie," are (left) Curt Tipton, Lt. Commander of the Arizona Division, SCV, and (right) Ken Polley, both at the event representing the Confederate Secret Service Camp 1710, Sierra Vista,

Arizona.

READING THE ROLL OF HONOUR

A traditional part of our annual ceremony has always been the reading of the Roll of Honour of the Confederate Veterans buried at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery. Arizona Division Lt. Commander Curt Tipton performed this duty at our 1999 ceremony.

WREATH LAYING CEREMONY

Pictured are (left) Robert Perkins, Commander of the Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and (right) Glenn Meek, Commander, Arizona Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, saluting the Confederate Veterans Monument after laying a wreath in honour of the Confederate Dead at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, 24 April 1999.

THE WEARIN' OF THE GRAY

After the wreaths were laid at the monument, Cindy Brown, a former professional singer who now belongs to the Arizona Civil War Council, performed a haunting rendition of "The Wearin' of the Gray," a song honoring Confederate veterans which has been a traditional part (usually in recorded form) of Camp 1525's Confederate Memorial Day ceremonies for many years.

DIPPING THE COLOURS

The mixed Sons of Confederate Veterans/Sons of Union Veterans Colour Guard dips the colours in honour of the dead as "Taps" is played. In the background, the musket party of the Arizona Civil War Council, under the command of Captain Richard Harper (Company D, 5th Texas Infantry) presents arms in salute to the dead.

MUSKET SALUTE

The Arizona Civil War Council musket party (composed of members of the 5th Texas Infantry, CSA and the 1st United States Infantry) fire one volley of a 21-gun salute in honour of the Confederate dead at Greenwood Memory Lawn Cemetery, 24 April 1999.

CANNON SALUTE

For the 1999 ceremony, the Colonel Sherod Hunter Camp 1525 was honoured to have not one, but TWO cannons present to perform the final salute to the Confederate dead. The cannon were provided by Camp 1525 Lt. Commander Dan Huskisson (whose piece is pictured just after having fired), and by George Duckworth of the Arizona Civil War Council, who is shown in the process of firing his piece.

Some clipart on this page was courtesy of

and

The music file of THE WEARING OF THE GRAY was composed and is copyrighted by Barry Taylor. Great, a'int it? For more great midi files like this one, check out THE CONTEMPLATOR'S FOLK MUSIC SITE.

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