South. Patriot’s Periodical Upshur Co. Patriots Camp #2109 Sons of Confederate Veterans Gilmer, Texas ©Copyright 2021 August 2021 Next Meeting August 3, 2021 www.upshurpatriots.org Museum Monument The Monument in front of the Museum was dedicated on June 22, 2013 by the Upshur County Patriots, Camp #2109. The project was accomplished under then Camp Commander wdp Chris Loyd. Our July Meeting was held at the Historic Upshur Museum 119 Simpson St. on the The Monument is dedicated to all who downtown square in Gilmer, Texas. We served the Confederate States of America in would like to thank Director Gwen Jewett any capacity during the War for Southern and everyone involved with the Museum Independence. for their hospitality. For the coming months we will be holding our monthly meetings at This project was completed with support this historic location. from: The Historic Upshur Museum, Gilmer City Council and Camp County Monument This red brick concrete building served the people of Upshur County as a post office from February, 1926 until October, 1992. The Sons of Confederate Veterans is strictly With funding from private citizens, the City patriotic, historical, educational, fraternal, of Gilmer, and the County of Upshur, the benevolent, non-political, non-racial and building was purchased from the federal non-sectarian. The Sons of Confederate government and opened the first exhibits Veterans neither embraces, nor espouses October 1, 1993. acts or ideologies of racial and religious bigotry, and condemns the misuse of its (903)843-5483 symbols and flags in the conduct of same. www.historicupshurmuseum.com 1 Camp Leadership The Upshur County Guardian Patriots Camp #2109 By Phil Davis Commander I haven’t written an Eugene Brown article in quite a (903) 759-4230 while but this month [email protected] I am led to write this one. It is about 1st Lt. Commander Gregg Gipe Compatriots helping other Compatriots. (903) 353-0670 With that said, I wish to thank Compatriot [email protected] David Palmer on what a great job he has done in producing these past Guardian nd 2 Lt. Commander articles. Editor David Palmer (903) 237-8941 It starts out with a phone call from Roger [email protected] Moore (not the one that made movies), from an SCV camp in Miller County Adjutant Arkansas. He was concerned that the grave Don Loyd of his Great Grandfather buried in a (903) 797-6922 cemetery near Latch, Texas, may not be [email protected] cared for properly. He explained that his Deputy Adjutant nephew who lived near Latch had been Eddie Pricer caring for properly the cemetery and grave. (903) 692-3388 The nephew had moved away and was no [email protected] longer able to see after the cemetery. Chaplain James Eitson I assured him that I (903) 592-4110 would look into it for [email protected] him. The first thing that I did was to check Librarian Find A Grave to locate Brandon Pricer the cemetery. When I found the cemetery (682) 552-5802 (Moore Family Cemetery) I looked up his [email protected] Great Grandfather’s name and I found that I had placed a flag on his grave a couple of Meetings of the years ago. My practice is when I get a Upshur County Guardian Application; I go to Find A Grave Patriots are now held and place a flag on the Grave. This told me at the Historic Upshur that I have a Guardian taking care of the Museum grave. 2 Upon further that we care about our Southern Heritage examination I found and the Valiant Heroes that fought to our great friend and preserve it. Compatriot George As always I leave you Linton was the with this question- Guardian over this Are you a Guardian? If grave. It was one of the graves that George not, why not? assumed from Compatriot Tommy Lee Mitchell when he passed away. I contacted George and he immediately went to the cemetery and cleaned up the whole cemetery. The cemetery is now in good repair as you can see by the pictures. Thank you Brother George. New Member James Lock (R) is sworn in at I called Compatriot Moore and assured him our July Meeting by Camp Commander that one of the best Guardians was Eugene Brown guardian on his Grandpa’s grave and he doesn’t have to worry about it anymore. I sent him pictures so he could see for himself the work that has been done. He thanked me and said to thank George. Gentlemen this is the Guardian Program at work, as long as we have dedicated people Happy Birthday to Compatriot Bill Palmer in the Sons of Confederate Veterans willing August 11, 1924 to dedicate themselves to honoring our Real Grandson of Frank Palmer ancestors. Company B, 7th Alabama Regiment Each time one of you accepts the responsibilities of becoming a Guardian it lifts my heart knowing that the process is working and that a Confederate Hero’s final Compatriots David resting place continues to be cared for. Palmer (L) and Jerry Akin . (C) performing at the Gilmer Brewing Co. on As I always say, I believe with all my being in July 16th. the Guardian Program and I hope that in some small way I can convince you of its importance in fulfilling “The Charge”. We must, now more than ever, show the world 3 Upshur Co.Patriots Guardians OUR PLEDGES Name Guardian Number of PLEDGE TO THE Status Graves U.S. FLAG: Phil Davis Full 29 Kim Duffey Full 3 I pledge allegiance to the Flag Jamie Eitson Full/GPT 8 Of the United States of America, And to the Chris Loyd Full 5 republic for which it stands, One nation, George Linton Full/W/GPT 46 under God, indivisible, With liberty and T. Mitchell/G. Linton Full 5 justice for all. Eddie Pricer Full/GPT 40 Milt Ojeman Full/GPT 4 PLEDGE TO THE David Palmer Full 1 TEXAS FLAG: Bill Palmer Full 10 Tommy Ray Full/GPT 19 Honor the Texas Flag; I pledge Bill Starnes Full/W/GPT 7 allegiance to thee Texas, one state under Frank Smith Full 2 God, one and indivisible. Mitch Tyson Full 3 Gregg Gipe GPT 3 SALUTE TO THE CONFEDERATE FLAG: W=Wilderness GPT=Guardian Pro Tem I salute the Confederate Flag With affection, reverence, and Undying devotion to the cause For which it stands. If you are interested in perpetuating the ideals that motivated your Confederate ancestor, the SCV needs you. The memory and reputation of the The Sons of Confederate Confederate soldier, as well as the motives Veterans is a non-profit, for his suffering and sacrifice, are being heritage organization whose consciously distorted by some in an attempt mission is to preserve the history and legacy of Confederate Veterans. It is to alter history. Unless the descendants of not associated with any anti-government or Southern soldiers resist those efforts, a hate groups. Membership is open to any unique part of our nation's cultural heritage male descendant of a Confederate Veteran will cease to exist. who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces. 4 Charge to the Sons of When You Are Confederate Veterans Misunderstood Ray Pritchard “To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for We are so prone to be suspicious. When we which we fought. To your strength will be become offended or hurt, we immediately given the defense of the Confederate begin to look for evidence that someone did soldier’s good name, the guardianship of his us wrong. Assumicide leads to the death of history, the emulation of his virtues, the relationships because we end up believing perpetuation of those principles which he the worst about others. We've all been loved and which you love also, and those guilty of drawing wrong conclusions on the ideals which made him glorious and which basis of tiny scraps of evidence: “He didn't you also cherish.” call back so he must not want to talk to me. I think she's trying to ignore me. He's probably a jerk at home too.” Few things hurt more than being misunderstood by our close friends. The “Remember, it is your duty to see that the closer they are to us, the greater the pain. true history of the South is presented to When that happens we discover a lot about future generations.” ourselves. How we respond when we've been misunderstood tells a great deal about the depth of our Christian faith. "Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret-it leads only to evil" (Psalm 37:8). Sometimes we will be misunderstood by our close friends. The best defense is an honest, clear, non-defensive explanation. At some point we must decide to leave our Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee, Commander reputation in God's hands and walk away United Confederate Veterans from the controversy. "If you live to please New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25, 1906 people, misunderstandings will depress you; but if you live to please God, you can “The SCV’s Best Hope for Success is face misunderstandings with faith and Knowledge of the Truth” courage." 5 1864 August 1-The Battle of Folck's Mill takes Historical Dates In place. It is an inconclusive engagement. August Also known as the Battle of Cumberland. August 2-The Battle of Mobile Bay begins 1861 pitting a Union force of 12 wooden ships, 4 August 3-For the first time in warfare a ironclads and 2 gunboats against a reconnaissance balloon is used by Union Confederate force of 3 gunboats and one forces to assess Confederate positions.