1. We exist as an organization to honor and preserve the memory and true history of our Confederate ancestors.
2. We also seek to educate those around us concerning the true history of the South and our heritage.
We accomplish these goals through preservation work, identifying and placing markers on Confederate graves, by cleaning and straightening existing markers, by providing Confederate grave dedication services, by participating in historical re-enactments and living history presentations, by providing scholarly publications to schools and groups, and by meeting monthly to discuss the military and political history of the War Between the States, and other like activities.
Specifically, here in Cleburne and Johnson County, which included Somervell and Hood Counties in 1861-1865, we provided numerous grave dedication services during 2004-07, and continue to work in county cemeteries. We continually place grave markers, clean and repair those already in place, as well as those of their family members, and generally beautify cemeteries where Confederate veterans are buried. In 2002-07 we cleaned hundreds of Confederate markers in numerous Johnson County cemeteries. Since we began in mid 1997, we have installed over 280 Confederate grave markers. In the year 2004/2005 we continued that as a project. We successfully researched and obtained two bronze markers for 26 Johnson County Confederate soldiers who died as POW’s at Camp Douglas in Illinois and designed and constructed a monument incorporating these markers. This monument was dedicated March 13, 2004 at Cleburne Memorial Cemetery. Westhill Construction provided concrete for the base of the monument. Lynn Steelman of Trey S Construction of Burleson assisted us in the Rock Work and Arnold Stone provided the “Picture Frame” at a discount.
Near General Pat Cleburne’s birthday in March, we hold a banquet honoring him. Everyone in the community is invited. In April’s past we’ve joined in Springfest by co-sponsoring the Gen. Pat Cleburne Auto Show. In 2006 it drew over 100 “antique” vehicles for Springfest and the crowds loved it. We feel it played a big part in the success of Springfest. Nearby, we had a booth where we displayed a fully operational civil war cannon, and an 1862 fully operational Gatling gun, both built by camp member Mike Smith of Cleburne, as well as other items used by soldiers in that war. Camp members manned the booth and offered historical perspective on the displayed items. This is an annual event for us now. In 2007, we added a second fully operational civil war cannon owned by camp member Jody Coleman. In recent years we have presented living history camps at Cleburne’s Candle Walk Christmas.
Further, we go to area schools during Texas Confederate History month of April as well as the month of March, Pat Cleburne’s birthday, to provide programs, literature and books about our Confederate heritage. Periodically, during the year, we provide speakers and artillery displays to schools when invited; most recently at Burleson ISD and Ft. Worth ISD.
We participate in parades such as the July 4th Keene and July 4th Cleburne parades as well as the General Granbury parade held each year. We participate in annual celebrations in many Johnson County towns including Cleburne, Burleson, Grandview, Alvarado and Godley and Whitney in Hill County. We do participate in parades and events in other Counties when invited to do so and our schedule permits.
We work locally with the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Johnson County Historical Commission, the Johnson County Genealogical Society, the Johnson County Cemetery Association and various individual cemetery associations to preserve and promote county history. We had representation on the Committee for the Johnson County Sesquicentennial celebration during 2004. We also have members on the JC Historical Commission. We participated with Cody Allen in his Eagle Scout project to finish the restoration of old historic Buchanan Cemetery.
We provide news releases to local newspapers in order to educate and interest the local population in our efforts. We take every opportunity to be interviewed for newspaper columns, and have had a lot of good press since we came on the scene in late 1996, primarily due to the efforts of Shirley McKee, formerly of the Cleburne Eagle and Pam Jetsel, past writer for the Cleburne Times Review.
We respond to various Confederate Heritage violations in Texas and throughout the country by appropriate letter writing campaigns and various other efforts.
We meet monthly, presently the 2nd Tuesday at Caddo Street Grill in Cleburne at 6:30 PM. We have had speakers discuss various WBTS battles, equipment and leaders. Some have spoken on their own ancestors. We have had speakers on the flags of the Confederacy and on how to do Confederate genealogical research. We have had music of the Confederacy presented, DVD’s on the war and many other things. The public is invited. Our meetings begin with the Pledge of Allegiance to the U.S. flag, the Pledge of Allegiance to Texas and the salute to the Confederate flag and a prayer.
We are a non-profit organization and survive on the donations of members and others that appreciate our efforts on behalf of their ancestors and/or Texas and southern heritage. The donations are spent on supplies to support our cemetery work, such as concrete, rebar, epoxy, tools and flags. Any funds left over are spent for literature, cemetery dedication programs and items to distribute at no cost to the receiver as well as selected civil war preservation efforts. We thank those who have been so generous in their support, both financially and through gifts in kind. Johnson County Heritage Assembly, Vacuums West, HEB Grocery, Wal-Mart, Westhill Construction and many individual members of our Camp and community have made donations. We also thank the Cleburne Chamber of Commerce for their support.
Preserving our Heritage – Honoring our Ancestors. That is our goal. We take to heart the plea and the charge of Confederate General Stephen D. Lee to the Sons of Confederate Veterans as he said: “To you, sons of Confederate veterans, we submit the vindication of the cause for which we fought. To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier’s good name, the guardianship of history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles he loved and which made him glorious and which you also cherish. Remember it is your duty to see that the true history of the South is presented to future generations.”
We are proud to be Southern and American and love and support this country, and many of us have served proudly in its military. We also are proud of our Southern heritage and our Confederate ancestors and seek only to honor that heritage and legacy. God Bless America! God Save the South!
For further information you may contact one of the following SCV Camp officers:
| Melvin Burt, Camp Commander | 817-558-6370, Cleburne
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| Jerry Jetsel, Past Camp Commander | 817-917-8290, Cleburne
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| Jody Coleman, Camp Lt. Commander | 817-447-0526. Joshua
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| Robert McMinn, Camp Lt. Commander | 817-648-0086, Cleburne
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| Mike Smith, Camp Adjutant | 817-645-9387, Cleburne
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| Michael Hatch, Camp Chaplain | 817-558-0856, Cleburne
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| Michael Percifield, Public Info. Officer | 817-999-0485, Alvarado
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J.J. Mar. 2008
