The Fort Brooke Record

April 2000

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April Meeting

Tuesday, April 18, 2000

Supper @ 6 PM
Meeting @ 7 PM

Program by:

Past Cmdr.-in-Chief William D. Hogan, Jr.

Of the Sons of Confederate Veterans

Speaks on

“On Guard Forever”

@ Buddy Freddys
134 South Gornto Lake Rd.
Brandon, FL
(813) 661-6005

map

Southern Heritage Month

Lots of Great Events Listed Below!

Sing it from roof tops, tell the people you meet and by all means remember yourself – This is OUR month. This is the time in which we honour the memory of a country that was and of the patriots of that land, a land called the Old South. Not just any country or land but a space that embodied our flesh and blood, our heritage. A land that fathered a nation that was practically birthed in bloodshed and a nation whose death spelled the end of liberty as was created by the founding fathers of this great land.

Yes, there once was a land of chivalry with a code of honour which was like no other. Of a people of Celtic roots who saw that there was worth in their land called the Southland. Where fences were foreign. Where goods were exchanged in trade not for gain but for need. Where fireside and family were supreme. Where idle time was time well spent.

And during that time when the land of the Old South became the Confederacy the South fought its heart out and shed its blood until there was no more to shed to defend the good in its land. From the giddy euphoria of Montgomery to the final flames of Atlanta and then Richmond the land and its people saw the end of an epic. Yes, we produced the finest: Robert E. Lee, Jefferson Davis, Stonewall Jackson and Patrick Cleburne. Heroes speak volumes for the heritage. Only a singularly great land and people could father men of such noble statue. Define the heroes and one defines the culture and heritage.

This is our month. Our special time. No matter what the world says is worthy – we know the worth of OUR heroes, OUR cultural symbols and of OUR heritage. Our forefathers fought on when all hope was gone simply because duty so demanded. There is no other way.

There is much included in this newsletter – This is OUR month – Remember: Duty is the most sublime word in the English language.

Saturday, April 8

Confederate Monument Program
(More In Depth Coverage Below)

At the Confederate War Memorial located at the Hillsborough County Courthouse located at Pierce and Madison in down town Tampa from 1 to 3 PM there will be a special program highlighting this fine marble sculpture. This program is the result of the awarding of a special grant of $1500.00 to Chapter 113 by the Florida Humanities Council. Speakers will include President Kris Armitage of Tampa Chapter, Hillsborough County Public Arts Director Jan Stein, local Historian CWO Jim Rodgers Armitage, US Army (retired) and Objects Conservator John Mazeman. Refreshments will be served after the formal program.

Tuesday, April 18

Regular monthly meeting at Buddy Freddys
(Speaker Information Below)

This is the time that we will truly gear up for the significant events happening during this special month but after this day. The day following this meeting will be the presentation of the Southern Heritage Month/Confederate Memorial Day by the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners. Also at this meeting we will collect funds to pay for the mums which we rightfully display around the monument during Honour Guard Duty and at the Confederate Memorial Service on the 30th. For information on this meeting and on the program please see the Program Article on page 2.

Wednesday, April 19

Presentation of Proclamation by the BOCC

This is the opportunity for you to appear in your very best attire in the Board Room on the 2nd floor of the County Center for the presentation of our Southern Heritage Month/Confederate Memorial Day proclamation by the Hillsborough County Commissioners. The County Center is the high rise pink building located at Kennedy and Pierce Streets in downtown Tampa. You may, of course, park on the street or if you desire you may park in the parking garage within the building. To enter the building to park look for the entrance for parking on the east side of the building on Pierce Street. The commissioners open their meeting at 9 AM sharp and will quickly present the proclamation. You can expect to be back to your vehicle and leaving before 10 AM. It is really important to make a good showing. We have had as many as 24 people show up for this. Please do try to come. It would be an embarrassment if we lack sufficient numbers on this day.

So many other areas are going through major struggles to get these Southern Heritage Proclamations issued. So do not take for granted that this is a for sure and guaranteed act by these politicians. Come down to the presentation on the 19th.

Wednesday, April 26

Confederate Honour Guard Duty

This is the time when we present to the community a true, respectful and honourable representation of our heritage. This will be a time of complete dedication by a group of committed men who will, in their wool uniforms, perform rotating 15 minute guard duty at the Confederate Monument at the Hillsborough County Courthouse located at Pierce and Madison streets in downtown Tampa.

The monument will be bedecked with about 80 various coloured mums along with various arrangements sent in by individuals. We will arrive to set up the flowers and the numerous large Confederate flags that morning at around 6 AM with the expectation that the TV crews with their antennas, lights, cameras and audio equipment will be there awaiting us. In the last six years that we have done this duty we have never been disappointed. The print and broadcast journalists have shown up. This is THE premier opportunity to let our community know that we Confederates and our heritage is very alive and well.

You will be receiving a postcard later this month giving you the opportunity to send flowers. These flowers will be used for both the Guard Duty and the Memorial Service on the 30th.

Saturday, April 29

“Open” Brigade Officer’s Call

This will be a 9th Brigade wide event that will be open to all members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans whether full member or Legionnaire. The 9th Brigade includes the E. M. Law Camp in Bartow/Lakeland, the R. E. Lee Camp in Brandenton and the Stonewall Jackson Camp in St. Petersburg. This event will begin at 9 AM at Buddy Freddys located in Brandon. See the map on the front of this newsletter for the actual location. Please do dress well for this event.

Sunday, April 30

Confederate Memorial Service

This will be a first rate affair. Beginning at 2 PM this service at Brandon Family Cemetery located at the intersection of Lithia/Pinecrest and Hwy 60 (Brandon Blvd) in Brandon, Florida will be on the grander scale of what we are capable of putting on. This is the same location where two years ago we hoisted our first flag over a monument/flagpole site. The 3rd Florida Regimental Band will be performing along with the Rev. Tom Sander, music director at Ballast Point Baptist Church. Florida Division Cmdr. Robert Young, from Pensacola, will be the keynote speaker. Expect a couple of hundred people, good press coverage and an hour of great period band music after the program. The Plant City Chapter 1931 will be providing refreshments and finger sandwiches during the reception.

Confederate Memorial Day 2000

***Expectations***

The John T. Lesley Camp has over the past several years developed a real talent for putting on “happenings.” Witness the “Coming Home of Private Benjamin Devane,” the numerous standard memorials that we have done, the fish frys, and the two flagpole/monuments that we have been instrumental in. No doubt, a Lesley sponsored event is a newsworthy occasion not to mention a fun heritage filled occasion.

On Sunday, April 30th, the Confederate Memorial Day 2000 commemoration at Brandon Family Cemetery will, as we expect, fill this bill. Get excited! Plan on coming and in bringing your friends. Conservatively we expect 200. With a little fair weather that number goes up 50. With a little adverse publicity from the likes of some local newspaper reporter the number goes up another 100. Considering the time of the year and the drought conditions, I doubt that rain will be a problem. That makes the 250 count a real possibility. And considering the serious attacks that our heritage is under across the fruited plain, from Richmond to Texas and from Pensacola to Columbia, everywhere it seems, we should have a fair share of publicity. That is if this editor and you do our jobs

My responsibility, as editor and organizer, is to run the faxes into the press contacts letting them know of this and of all the events of the month. That will get their attention. They will know that the Confederate Battle Flag will be in prominence and will be proudly waved in their community. I’ll take care of that.

Your responsibility, as supporter of the heritage, is to attend any and every event that has the word Confederate or Southern attached to its name. This means looking at the calendar on the inside of this newsletter and making a super human effort to show up. Whether it be the proclamation giving, a cleanup, the Brigade Officer’s Call, the regular meeting at Buddy Freddys, or the Memorial Service, JUST SHOW UP!

You will receive a postcard toward the middle of the month asking and giving you the means to funnel flowers to these events. Follow through on the opportunity. Contact the florist suggested and order what you can afford. The eyes of the community, via the press, will be on us and the flowers that we bring together at the Guard Duty and the Memorial Service. JUST DO IT, ORDER THOSE FLOWERS!

The culminating event of our month will be the Confederate Memorial Service at the Brandon Family Cemetery. The 3rd Florida Regimental Band, Soloist Tom Sander, Florida Division Commander and keynote speaker Robert Young, a fine rifle detail for the military salute, and the sharp Colour Guard of the John T. Lesley Camp will make this a memorable occasion.

Remember, that we are hosting this service along with the Plant City Chapter 1931 of the UDC. These fine ladies will have an integral part of the program and will be responsible for refreshments and finger sandwiches while the band plays during the reception following the formal program. The ladies will have a special presentation to make to some deserving youngsters. On Saturday, March 25th, ladies from the Plant City Chapter 1931 United Daughters of the Confederacy, sponsored a coloring contest for children attending the Arts Council of Plant City's Children's Fun Festival. Over a hundred children ages 3-12 entered the contest and one winner in each of three age categories will be selected. Each of the winners will receive an Award Certificate and a US Savings Bond. All winners will be invited to be awarded their prizes at the Confederate Memorial Day Ceremony at Brandon Family Cemetery on Sunday, April 30th, 2000. The winning entries will also be on display for attendees to view.

Do you sense the spirit here and the reason for you to be active? There is no time better than this month to just show up or even to just sit down and to write that letter to Commissioner Pat Frank (per page 6 heritage request).

Let’s just do it – YOU ARE NEEDED!!

Program Article:

We are blessed to have in the Florida Division a past Commander in Chief of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Cmdr. William D. Hogan, Jr. And we will be doubly blessed this coming meeting to have Cmdr. Hogan as the program speaker. He is a member of a camp that has given mightily in providing leadership to the Florida Division and to the National.

Cmdr Hogan had his tenure as National Commander when the current wave of attacks began in 1991 with the NAACP resolution damning our heritage and its symbols. Although his leadership was ten years ago Cmdr. Hogan has certainly not been one to ignore the national tide of anti-Confederate sentiment in our culture and nation. He has selected as his subject matter a talk which traces the historical phases of the slavery question from its beginning in North America until today.

Certainly Cmdr. William Hogan is not one to “Eat, Meet and Retreat” as this editor saw the commander up at the Hwy 27 flag raising and dedication north of Tallahassee. He supports the “Flags Across Florida” project and his name is inscribed on the monument. See you on the 18th for a fine meal and a good talk.

**A Bio** 
April Meeting Speaker

Past C-in-C William Dudley Hogan, Jr.

William D. Hogan was born in Canton, Georgia on January 14, 1922. He enlisted in the Army of the United States in World War II and served in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Massachusetts, Wyoming, and the European Theater of Operations as a non-commissioned officer. While in Europe he participated in four major battles: Northern France, Ardennes, Central Europe, and the Rhineland. After graduating from Emory University with a BA Degree in 1947, he received his MS Degree from the University of Tennessee in 1949. He was employed by the E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Co. Inc. and then by the Chevron Corporation as a research scientist in product development until 1984 when he retired. He has been a consultant since then. In religion, he is a Presbyterian; in politics, an independent. He married Virginia Blackwell Keys and they have one daughter, Ann Hogan Johnson. His SCV offices have included Camp Quartermaster, Camp Executive Officer, Camp Commander; Lt. Cmdr. And Commander of the Florida Division; Deputy Commander-in-Chief, Lt. Commander-in-Chief, and in August, 1990, he became the sixty-third Commander-in-Chief at Fayetteville, Arkansas. He has served the Military Order of the Stars and Bars as Chapter Commander. Among his other Confederacy-related activities, he is a member of The Society of the Order of the Southern Cross. He is an active speaker on the War for Southern Independence and related subjects. He has received numerous SCV, MOS&B, and United Daughters of the Confederacy awards and medals. He is a life-long resident of Florida having grown up in St. Augustine and continues to live in Orlando. He is a member of the CSS Florida Camp 102.

Flags Across Florida

We have it from very reliable sources that a first rate site for the next “Flags Across Florida” project has been decided upon which lies on Interstate 75 fairly near the Georgia line. The supportive owner has agreed to part with the 25 foot by 125 foot property just as soon as we get the surveying done. That might already have been accomplished as you read this. The running 25 feet abuts the actual interstate fence. Since this site has perfect access (ingress and egress) the idea is afoot to make this property into a mini park. Talk within the Division is to put up a 90 foot flagpole. This site is so perfect for a flagpole/monument that we think that the governor will no doubt have this monster flag brought to his attention. There must be 100,000 cars (at least) per day that travel this road. And a goodly number of those are folks coming to Florida who have the preconceived notion that the Sunshine State is but an extension of New England.

70 Flags a-Wavin’

Because of some “politicking” by the John T. Lesley Camp there are now, for the entire month of April, a Confederate Battle Flag flying at the head of every Confederate soldier interred at historic Oaklawn Cemetery. This wonderful cemetery is located at the intersection of Morgan and Harrison streets in downtown Tampa. This is directly south of the Morgan Street Jail facility. On Monday, April 2, Compatriot Jeff Gordon and 1st Lt. Cmdr. Marion Lambert walked the grounds placing the 12” by 18” flag graves into their especially designed 18 inch metal tube holders at each identified veteran’s grave.

Remember that this cemetery is under the Parks Department of the City of Tampa. We have in writing the following from the Director of the City of Tampa Parks Department, Ross J. Ferlita:

...the Parks Department will allow these flags to be placed on special occasions such as Memorial Day, Flag Day, and Veterans Day.. and during Southern Heritage Month (April).

Beyond the Call of Duty

Compatriot Mark Salter (Engineer Corp, Colour Guard, keeper of the Camp Float, and owner of the parade red antique farm tractor) spent 6 1/2 hours on his day off of work (April 2) cleaning and mowing Bethlehem Cemetery. He learned that Compatriot Jim Harwell, who normally takes care of this duty, was out of town on a job. Of course, Bethlehem Cemetery contains a fine monument/flagpole (that flies our Southern flag) that was erected by the John T. Lesley Camp in 1998.

“Open” Brigade Officer’s Call

Please do be aware of this meeting and that ANY member of this camp is welcome to attend. Do dress as if it were Sunday morning. This is an opportunity for you to see the Division at work. It will be very educational. See April Happenings above  for details.

Camp Business

***IMPORTANT NOTICE***

The May meeting will be held on the 23rd of May instead of the 16th. 
This will be the FOURTH Tuesday instead of the third Tuesday.

Trailer In Action

The fund raising for the new trailer is very much in motion. Although funds are coming in we are only about 1/2 way to the goal of raising the purchase price of $3100.00 to reimburse the officer of the camp who placed his credit card on the line for this needed logistical and advertising tool. If you have not done so or if you are able to give again. PLEASE do so.

Brandon Cemetery Cleanup

In preparation for the great Confederate Memorial Service that we have planned for Sunday, April 30th, at the Brandon Family Cemetery there is a planned cleanup time at the cemetery. We will gather at the site, located at Lithia/Pinecrest and Hwy 60 in Brandon at 9 AM on Saturday, April 22nd. Please do bring a few garden and landscape tools, your work gloves and a willing spirit. Hopefully we will be done and gone by around 11 that morning. If we are not too dirty (and odorous) we will perhaps fellowship at some nearby restaurant. See you there!

New Members

SPECIAL PIECE IN HONOR OF 
SOUTHERN HERITAGE MONTH

For Your Consideration
Major Thomas Woodward, CSA
Speech on August 9, 1883

A portion of a speech made by Major Thomas Woodward, a Chester, S.C. resident and veteran of the CSA, to the Survivors' Association of the 6th Regiment, at Chester, Aug. 9, 1883.)

The War is over and peace and reconciliation are at least visible in the offing. There are, therefore, still duties and services for the old soldier as sacred and important as those which you rendered in the past. It is peculiarly our province to contribute by any and all decent means to the glory and the prosperity, but more especially to the reconciliation, of the two sections of this our common country. I say it is peculiarly our duty to fraternize because the recipients of injury are always in a better position and more inclined to forgive and forget than are the perpetrators of malignant wrongs.

Your conduct thus far has been most admirable; that reputation for chivalry and heroism, the property of Southern men before your day, has been amply vindicated, and without spot or blemish passed to the generations who are to come after us. Since the war you have sublimely illustrated by the dignity and fortitude of your conduct the advantages of character, of sentiment, and of soldierly principles in adversity. But there is a danger and another duty of which I must speak, a duty not only to the living, but to that grand voiceless multitude of gallant martyrs whose characters and memories are so dear to us.

The attempt is being made to pervert history by obscuring incidents and falsifying facts which tend to make up the Southern theory of this issue. It is the commonest of human attributes which makes us seek to justify our own excesses by maligning the motives and characters of those who differ with us. Sherman, at Atlanta, whilst driving to the woods the widows and orphans of the gallant men who fell in unequal combat before him, illustrated this principle when he charged that the "war was begun in error and continued in pride." Others, from the same motives, assert that we went to war to defend and perpetuate slavery. And others charge that we were captious rebels and heartless traitors to the best government in the world, and fought to gratify the blood-thirsty and ferocious instincts of our Southern nature. And herein lie the difficulties of the situation, for our late adversaries possess greater facilities for printing and disseminating their statements than we have.

Our duty is plain, then. Let our records be sacredly preserved, and our statements and views transmitted from sire to son, not for purposes of disloyalty, but in order that substantial material shall be on hand for that unbiased historian of the future, who is to separate the gold from the dross, and gaining the ear of enlightened Christendom, not only state the true causes of our unhappy war, but define the status of the two parties engaged in it -- the one of whom was right and occupied the position of self-defense, the other in the wrong and waging a relentless war of conquest and subjugation. Noble old comrades, I bid you adieu. Let no feelings of shame for your deeds in the past disturb you, and no regrets creep in save for the loss of our cause and for the fall of our noble dead.

May prosperity and happiness attend you, and the frosts of many more winters descend gently upon your already whitened heads.

Chaplain's Column

- Rev. Ken Simpson

  A Chaplain’s Look at the 23rd Psalm

Part III

“He Restoreth My Soul”

It is the habit of the Shepherd to “restore” the soul. No matter what has happened or of what condition the soul is, He is able and willing to bring about full restoration. No case is too hard for Him.

The word “restore” would naturally include the bringing back of one who had strayed from his rightful place or his rightful owner as well as one who had lost his vigor, health, and purity. The story of the shepherd who went into the hills to seek and find and bring back the straying sheep is one of the best illustrations of the Good Shepherd’s love. The old song, “The Ninety and Nine” will always move our hearts. The Good Shepherd can never be satisfied as long as even one of His sheep is straying in the ways of sin. “He restoreth my soul.”

Simon Peter could give us a firsthand account of the Shepherd; seeking and restoring. Although Jesus had warned him that temptation would come and had prayed that he would not yield, Peter had denied his Lord. Then Jesus met Peter alone on that memorable Sunday afternoon. Jesus won Peter back and empowered him to go forth as a beloved missionary to others. Surely the same Shepherd can and will do as much for each one of us. How we need the touch of His holy hand to restore the music of our souls, the ringing of joy bells, and the wonderful Christian influence He would have us exhibit all the days of our lives. Why blunder along through life, weak or frail or sinful or powerless, when the Good Shepherd makes it His business to “restore” the soul. Life is rapidly running out. It may be later than you think!

He Leadeth Me The word “lead” is the Hebrew word nihah and means to guide, direct, or lead carefully toward a definite goal according to a definite plan. It is a strong word. The shepherd knew that it was necessary to have the sheep take a certain course and arrive at the chosen place. He took over and guided according to the plan. The same sheep that was gently led to the oasis for rest and shade and refreshment now finds himself guided out into the struggle of the way again. He cannot hope to loll about the still waters, the soothing shade, and the quiet place of rest all the time. The stern test of the open road with its steep climbs, hot rocks, bare hillsides, and dangerous turns must be endured. It is here that the shepherd reveals a different side of his character. He has a definite plan to carry out.

David understood fully that our lives are not to be spent entirely in rest, soft living, and sheltered moments. Life is a serious matter. Life is a struggle. We are put here for a purpose. The Shepherd must direct our energies and guide our steps into the going that may be rougher than we had expected. Our Lord says that the Good Shepherd “goeth before them, and the sheep follow him” (John 19:4). His way may lead over the stony mountain track or through ugly surroundings for days of weary plodding, but we may be sure that He always guides through right or straight paths. We may rest assured that His way is right even though we may not understand it. Perhaps not now, but someday, you will see and understand and know that His way of leading was best for you.

The challenge to us is to walk very close to our Shepherd, even when the following is hard, knowing full well that He knows the way and will bring us to the full realization of that which fits His plan. “Where He leads me I will follow.”

May your hearts be lifted and strengthened by these words, as you follow the Good Shepherd down the path of life.

Your Chaplain and friend,

Rev. Ken Simpson

Special - HERITAGE REPORT - Special

Editor’s Note: Before the full substance of this heritage report is presented with the course of action suggested, the following proclamation is presented in full. This is the “Southern Heritage Proclamation” that has been signed by all but one of the county commissioners and will be presented in full session of the commission on Wednesday, April 19, 2000.

Hillsborough County

Board of County Commissioners

Proclamation

WHEREAS, on January 10, 1861, the State of Florida declared itself to be a free and independent state, and did in fact become a member of the Confederate States of America from 1861 until 1865; and

WHEREAS, in proportion to its population, Florida contributed more soldiers and sailors to the Confederate Services than any other state, including a unit from Hillsborough County called “The Sunny South Guards” to fight for Southern Independence in the War Between the States; and

WHEREAS, many of the citizens of Hillsborough County served, fought and died in the War Between the States and are memorialized through the Confederate Monument that stands on the grounds of the Hillsborough County Courthouse; and

WHEREAS, April 26th is a legal state holiday in memory of those brave men and women who lost their lives in the War Between the States.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED that the Board of County Commissioners of Hillsborough County, Florida, does hereby declare the month of April, 2000, as

Southern Heritage Month

in Hillsborough County; and does set aside April 26th, 2000, as

Confederate Memorial Day

In memory of the many Floridians who gave their lives in the terrible conflict that tore apart our great nation

Executed this 19th day of April, 2000.

***MISSING SIGNATURE***
Chris Hart
Jan Platt
Thomas Scott
Ben Wacksman
Rhonda Storm
Jim Norman

CAMP ALERT
Your action is needed! 
The missing signature is that of 
Commission Chairman Mrs. Pat Frank

A Democrat representing Hillsborough County District 7, at large. Last year she also refused to sign a similar proclamation but we didn’t find this out until it was too late to respond. This time we know her “sin of omission” and that she either does not understand the heritage or she is terribly “politically correct.” Please do direct your (educational) attention to the following:

Chair Pat Frank
Hillsborough BOCC
P.O. Box 1110
Tampa, Florida 33601-1110

Direct line 272-5735
Fax line 272-7054

Rebmaster Note:  Let's get the phone and fax ringing and tire out the ol' mailman delivering bags of mail....Enough of these heritage violations!!!!!  It's a down right shame when elected officials are so uninformed on history that hurting people's feelings is more important than honoring American Veterans!