October 1, six members of Camp 91, Thomson Guards participated in the Oliver Hardy Festival in Harlem, Georgia. The camp collected $214 for the Georgia Division legal defense fund. The camp also collected names, addresses and cell phone numbers of 16+ well qualified potential members. It was a very successful day.
On July 16, 2022, Camp 91, Thomson Guards met at the Thomson Memorial Cemetery to install Crosses of Honor on five Confederate veterans' graves. After a short meeting to pray, pledge the flags and learn more about how the Cross of Honor tradition began, 9 camp members, 2 wives and special guest Commander J. J. Brittingham of the E. Porter Alexander Camp in Augusta installed the crosses.
Cedar Rock Farm, Thomson, Georgia: the John Moore Lazenby Homeplace Karen Holley and Mike & Dollie Lacefield dress in antebellum clothing. David Moore discusses his ancestor Captain John Thaddeus Stovall, of the Thomson Guards, Company F, 10th Regiment of Georgia Volunteers, Confederate States of America Compatriots and guests enjoy beautiful weather and historic setting, learn about SCV and honor our collective ancestors. Relics from the John Moore Lazenby Homeplace are displayed. WBTS memorabilia is offered for donations to help support the Georgia Division Legal Defense Fund to save our monuments. $248 was collected. Captain John Thaddeus Stovall's Grave **********
On Saturday, April 2nd, twelve members of Camp 91, Thomson Guards, 5th Brigade met at the Thomson Memorial Cemetery that was created in 1856. After a short memorial service honoring our 110 Confederate Veterans, the members had the honor to mark the graves with small battle flags. The camp members then walked a very short distance to The Thomson Confederate Monument to complete the commemoration.
Dollie and Mike Lacefield have served as docents for the annual Christmas Comes to Liberty Hall since 2004, which is the home of Alexander H. Stephens, located in Crawfordville. Stephens served in both houses of the Georgia Legislature, the U.S. House of Representatives, as Vice President of the Confederacy and Georgia Governor. They use this opportunity to present true Southern history to future generations.
The Lacefields have also been studying cemetery restoration under Jonathan Appell at the Old Savannah Railroad Depot in Savannah, Georgia. They have studied how to correctly paint old brick work using period materials and the correct methods and materials for cleaning historic monuments. Both are currently involved in the complete restoration of a headstone of an Augusta Revolutionary War patriot and the stabilization of another. Camp 91 hosted a booth at the Oliver Hardy Festival in Harlem on October 2, 2021. Nine members and two wives participated. This event was a big success with twelve strongly motivated prospective members being added to our mailing list.
The Thomson Guards, Camp 91, met July 27, 2021. Our guest speaker was Mr. Maxwell Scott of Statesboro, Georgia. His presentation included a collection of well over 40 authentic Civil War artifacts that included long rifles, shotguns, swords, knives, wooden canteens, flags and ammunition. Did you know that the weight of the rifle your ancestor carried during the war was from 17 to 22 pounds? Did you know that his pistol weighted from 4 to 7 pounds? And, imagine, he had to carry just about everything he needed to survive on his own back. Camp 91 was proud to present officer medals in appreciation of outstanding contribution and dedication in supporting the Charge. Adjutant David Butler has managed the complex camp records since the camp formed in 2017. He has attended Commander responsibilities when necessary and he has often given history presentations to this camp and others. Color Sergeant Mike Lacefield is simply Mr. Dependable. He attends every meeting of the camp and gives every effort to our civic responsibilities. Both he and his wife, Dollie, always answer the call. Chaplain Jimmy McDaniel is the great support man and constant recruiter. His enthusiasm is both infectious and motivating. All three of these leaders are charter members of Camp 91 and they provide a backbone to the Camp’s efforts. Thank God for great men like these in the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Photo L. to R. - Commander Tom Holley, Adjutant David Butler, Color Sergeant Mike Lacefield, Chaplain Jimmy McDaniel Saturday, June 26, 2021, Thomson Guards, Camp 91, Sons of Confederate Veterans, met at the McDuffie County Courthouse (formerly Columbia County during the WBTS) and had a short memorial service at the Confederate Monument. Also, in cooperation with the Thomson Memorial Cemetery, LLC Board of Directors, Thomson Guards began efforts to clean and spruce up the Thomson City Confederate Cemetery. This cemetery was established in 1854 and there are 110 Confederate heroes interred.
There were 9 camp members and 3 friends trimming, cutting, raking and disposing of the refuse. While only a portion of the four acre cemetery was thoroughly cleaned, the camp, with the permission and assistance of the cemetery oversight committee, intends this to be a long-term community service project. Our purpose is the “preservation of history and the perpetuation of the hallowed memories of these brave men…” In remembrance of our Confederate heroes, on April 17, 2021, after a short memorial service in which The Gray Poet read a beautiful poem, Thomson Guards placed a small Confederate flag on each gravesite. There are 110 Confederate graves within the confines of the old Thomson City Cemetery located across from The Thomson First Methodist Church. There were five graves as the final resting places for unknown Confederate soldiers. These severely wounded men died in route while being transported to hospitals in Augusta after The Battles of Atlanta. They were removed from the train at the Thomson depot. Fortunately, today all but one of these soldiers has been identified.
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