By the time you receive this we will have already celebrated Confederate Memorial Day, which is 3 June and an official state holiday in Louisiana. Our plans call for decorating Confederate graves in local cemeteries and holding a memorial service at The South's Defenders Monument on the Calcasieu Parish Court House grounds. The day is also the anniversary of the birthday of President Jefferson Davis.
Conclusively we accomplished very little in even attending the division convention as the executive council had already taken care of our business before hand. We are informed of their decisions as if our input from the camps is of no concern of the executive council. More time was devoted by the agenda to guest speakers than to the general body of the LA delegation of camps.
One delegate continually tried to voice his right to air grievances, but was put off with a promise to be given the floor later, alas time ran out and the room vacated before he was given the floor to speak. He was told he could speak to the commander after the meeting. This effectively kept the convention delegates from hearing this discussion and given the right to vote on anything arising from the discussion.
The last thing on the agenda was the election of a new Southwest Brigade Commander to replace Scott Thorn due to his removal by the executive council. After meeting with the other camps of the Southwest Brigade represented at the convention it was decided by vote of the members present that we of the Southwest Brigade do not recognize or accept the action taken to remove our Brigade Commander due to the fact that no reason for removal other than it was the decision of the executive council. Also that the disciplinary action to expel Scott Thorn is not the right or the duty of the division executive council, as that the responsibility is of the camp and no such activity has been taken by the J.W. Bryan Camp #1390. Needless to say those of us who attended the convention, myself, Mike Jones, Scott Thorn, my wife Marilyn and Scott's wife Bonnie left the convention very disappointed as to the way it was conducted and to the results of it.
I do want to thank those camps and those who attended the convention and gave support to the J.W. Bryan Camp especially our sister camp Jesse M. Cooper of Deridder, the Minden Camp and the Winnsboro Camp and any others who gave their support.
We must strive to stay together and continue to fight for our democratic rights to uphold what we think is the proper and just way to conduct our business, and we have much work to do to accomplish this.
Gerald Thorn
Commander
Foremost among those ideals is local control by local people, which is the true basis for freedom and liberty. That is why I have chosen as the slogan for my campaign, "Your Camp Rights Candidate".
I have never run for a state office and have always been most interested in building my local camp, of which I am a charter member. I also want the members of the Louisiana Division to have a real campaign, a real election, and a wide choice of candidates.
The more the merrier. I invite and encourage other candidates to announce their candidacies now so we can have a full year of vigorous, open, and friendly debate about issues of concern to us and the camps. I would also like to challenge all other candidates to open debate on the issues at the Fall Assembly. I will soon be coming out with a full platform of ideas and principles for which I stand.
God Bless the South, the SCV, and the Louisiana Division.
Your respectful and obedient servant,
Michael Dan Jones
2nd Lt. Cmdr. and Camp Editor,
Captain James W. Bryan Camp 1390
Lake Charles, Louisiana
Whereas, the Confederate States of America was founded on the sacred principle of local self-government; and it rejected such abuses as consolidation of power, claims of unlimited power, and secret trials in which the accused is not given an adequate chance to mount a defense or even be present. and;
Whereas, it is a gross injustice and misuse of power for any outside body to presume to judge a member of Captain James W. Bryan Camp through such arbitrary means as a judicial proceeding in which no officer or member of this camp is given any input whatsoever, and the accused is not even present. and;
Whereas, such claims of arbitrary and unlimited power are a threat to the Constitutional rights of all Sons of Confederate Veterans members and camps everywhere.
Therefore, be it resolved, the members of Captain James W. Bryan Camp 1390, on this 16th day of May, in the year of our Lord 2001, in meeting assembled in Lake Charles, Louisiana do hereby reject as null and void and a violation of this camp's Constitutional rights under Article XV, Section 1 of the Constitution of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, any presumed order by any outside body which presumes to judge the membership status of a member of Captain James W. Bryan Camp 1390.
A spokesman said the people who know him best, his compatriots in the Bryan camp, wanted to recognize and honour him for the outstanding service he has rendered the camp over many years, and his selfless devotion to the "Charge" Stephen Dill Lee gave to the Sons of Confederate Veterans in New Orleans in 1906 to defend the good name of the Confederate soldiers, and all the many virtues for which he fought and which are important to members of the SCV as well.
Thorn has served the camp as commander and adjutant and has always carried out his duties with the highest integrity, honesty and devotion to duty. Compatriot Thorn's conduct has always been beyond reproach in his service to this camp and in the highest tradition of the Confederate soldier. In addition, his skills in recruiting and public relations have carried the membership of the Bryan camp to all time highs.
Perhaps his greatest local service to Camp 1390 was to be one of the upfront leaders in the campaign to save the Confederate courthouse monument in Lake Charles, The South's Defenders, from an attempt by anti-southern heritage bigots who wanted to remove it in 1994-95. He was appointed to a committee by the Calcasieu Parish Police Jury to study the issue. His powerful debating skills, vast knowledge of this period of history and uncompromising iron will was instrumental in turning the situation around to a huge victory for Confederate heritage. Then, as now, he could not be intimidated by heritage bullies.
He has served two terms as Louisiana Division Commander and "advanced the colors" to new heights in this state and was devoted to helping local camps be the very best they can be. Among his many accomplishments as Louisiana Division Commander was to institute the Fall Assembly to give local camp leaders a chance to attend workshops, network and share ideas.
It is with great pride and honour that Captain James W. Bryan Camp presents Compatriot G. Scott Thorn its Lee-Jackson Award.
The coin was minted in 1860 and one side has lady liberty, it was the side the bullet hit. The other side has the Federal shield and eagle symbol. That side appears to be sanded and has an inscription in cursive script that reads in four lines: Shiloh April 6, 1862 My life Preserver G. E. D. (Lt. Dixon's initials)
The coin has been removed from the Warren Lasch Conservation Center and is now in a secured location. Photos will be on Hunley.org Member's Section soon.
The Hunley project has been made possible in part though the generous support of the National Geographic Society.
The bricks may honor a Confederate ancestor, a Confederate regiment, company or organization, an SCV/UCV/UDC/MOS&B organization or a like-minded individual.
The memorial bricks are available for a $50 contribution. The donation will also entitle the person to a $10 credit toward a one year membership in the Friends of Camp Moore. The bricks will be at the Volunteer Memorial Courtyard around the front flagpole.
For an order form write to Camp Moore, P.O. Box 25, Tangipahoa, LA 70465.
CONFEDERATE FLAG CLAIMS FILED AGAINST BURKE Co. SCHOOLS
Black Mountain, NC - The Southern Legal Resource Center Inc, announces that it has filed civil rights claims against the Burke County Schools on behalf of Toby Marvin Carver, whose civil and constitutional rights were violated when East Burke High School officials banned Confederate symbols last year.
The claims were filed with the Department of Education, office of Civil Rights alleging discrimination based on race, religion and national origin. Investigation and arbitration has been requested. The Department of Education will forward the religious discrimination claims to the Department of Justice, Equal Opportunity Section for investigation. Constitutional claims and civil rights claims will be filed in Federal court after the DOE & DOJ investigations.
The SLRC is coordinating its legal efforts with the Burke County Camp, Sons of Confederate Veterans.
"This case is about justice, liberty and fundamental fairness," said SLRC Board Chairman Lourie A. Salley, III, a Lexington, SC attorney.
"Toby had the right to honorably display Confederate symbols, and we are prepared to use all legal means to vindicate that right." said SLRC Chief Trial Counsel Kirk D. Lyons, attorney for the students.
Toby graduates from East Burke High School on May 24, but hopes filing his claims will help remaining East Burke High students who are proud of their Southern Heritage.
The claims will hopefully be arbitrated this summer.
The Southern Legal Resource Center, Inc. is a non-profit tax-exempt Civil Rights Law firm that specializes in Southern Heritage violations.
Please visit the Southern Legal Resource Center's web site at www.cheta.net/slrc. We encourage those who support us to sign a monthly pledge so that our work may continue. If anyone has received this who does not wish to be on our distribution list, please let us know. Our address is SLRC, P.O. Box 1235, Black Mountain, NC 28711. Phone: 828-669-5189 Dr. Payne and Atty. Lyons SCV members, I.N. Giffen,758, Black Mountain, NC
The new tour schedule will be on weekends-only, starting June 16th and running through September 3rd.
TOUR DATES - June 16 & 17 - June 23 & 24 - June 30 & July 1 - July 5,6,7 & 8 - July 14 & 15 - July 21 & 22 - July 28 & 29 - August 4 & 5 - August 11 & 12 - August 18 & 19 - August 25 & 26 - September 1 & 2
Times for the tours are Saturdays from 9:00 a. m. to 5:20 p. m. and on Sundays from 12:00 to 7:40 p. m. Tickets will go on sale at 8:00 a.m. Friday, May 25th. Tickets are $10.00 and can be purchased on the Internet at www.etix.com or by calling a toll free number, 1-866-866-9938. Phone lines will be open from 8:00 a. m. to 5:00 p. m. seven days a week. You can purchase tickets on-line 24 hours a day. There will be a $3.00 service charge for orders made by phone and a $2.00 service charge for orders made on the Internet.
The video tours of the H. L. Hunley will continue at the Warren Lasch Conservation Center. These tours are open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p. m., Monday through Friday. Tickets are $5.00 at the door and do not need to be pre-ordered. The video tours do not include the submarine.