Southern Cross of Honor
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The Southern Cross of Honor was a commemorative medal established in 1899 by the United Daughters of the Confederacy (the UDC) to honor Confederate Veterans.
The Cross of Honor medal is in the form of a cross pattée suspended from a metal bar with a space for engraving. "A cross pattée" means having almost triangular arms, which are narrow at the center and broaden to squared ends. The medal’s obverse, or front, displays the Confederate battle flag in its center, surrounded by a wreath, with the inscription UNITED DAUGHTERS [of the] CONFEDERACY TO THE U. C. V. (the UCV is the United Confederate Veterans) on the four arms of the cross. The reverse of the Cross is the motto of the Confederate States, DEO VINDICE ([With] God [as] our Vindicator) and the dates 1861 1865 also surrounded by a laurel wreath. The arms of the cross bear the inscription SOUTHERN CROSS OF HONOR. The medal has no cloth ribbon..
The Cross of Honor was conceived and designed by Mary Ann Erwin, the daughter of U. S. Speaker of the House, Georgia governor and Confederate general Howell Cobb, in 1898. The first medal was issued in 1900 to Mary Erwin's husband, Captain Alexander Erwin by the Athens GA UDC Chapter. Alexander Erwin is remembered for advancing farther than any other Confederate soldier during Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. Charles Crankshaw of Atlanta was chosen as the contractor to produce the medals.
Anna Davenport Raines was the UDC’s Custodian of Crosses of Honor. At the time of her death in 1913, 78,761 medals had been issued. Anna Raines was co-founder and Vice President of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1894 and served as the organization's Honorary President General from 1905 until her death in 1915.
The Cross of Honor could only be bestowed through the UDC. It could not be purchased; it was given in recognition of loyal, honorable service to the South and only a Confederate veteran could wear it. It was available to any branch of the Confederate military. Only living veterans were eligible. However the final award was given posthumously, in 1951 to Rear Adm. Raphael Semmes. The program ended in 1959.
Although the last verified Confederate veteran died in 1951, a Virginia Code still in effect makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $500, to "wear any Southern Cross of Honor when not entitled to do so by the regulations under which such Crosses of Honor are given." Wearing the Cross was never authorized on any U.S. military uniforms.
The Cross of Honor is also used as an emblem or marker on the graves of Confederate veterans. It can only be issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be placed on graves of eligible Confederate veterans. Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans of the Thomson Guards, Camp 91 have maintained or replaced many of the 103 grave markers in this cemetery over the years under the leadership of Camp Commander Tom Holley. There are still markers that need to be placed on several unmarked veterans’ graves but procuring them in the marketplace has been difficult. The excellent condition of this cemetery today is due primarily to the untiring efforts of SCV Commander Holley with the participation of compatriot David Moore, his cemetery crew and members of the Thomson Guards.
The Cross of Honor medal is in the form of a cross pattée suspended from a metal bar with a space for engraving. "A cross pattée" means having almost triangular arms, which are narrow at the center and broaden to squared ends. The medal’s obverse, or front, displays the Confederate battle flag in its center, surrounded by a wreath, with the inscription UNITED DAUGHTERS [of the] CONFEDERACY TO THE U. C. V. (the UCV is the United Confederate Veterans) on the four arms of the cross. The reverse of the Cross is the motto of the Confederate States, DEO VINDICE ([With] God [as] our Vindicator) and the dates 1861 1865 also surrounded by a laurel wreath. The arms of the cross bear the inscription SOUTHERN CROSS OF HONOR. The medal has no cloth ribbon..
The Cross of Honor was conceived and designed by Mary Ann Erwin, the daughter of U. S. Speaker of the House, Georgia governor and Confederate general Howell Cobb, in 1898. The first medal was issued in 1900 to Mary Erwin's husband, Captain Alexander Erwin by the Athens GA UDC Chapter. Alexander Erwin is remembered for advancing farther than any other Confederate soldier during Pickett’s Charge at Gettysburg. Charles Crankshaw of Atlanta was chosen as the contractor to produce the medals.
Anna Davenport Raines was the UDC’s Custodian of Crosses of Honor. At the time of her death in 1913, 78,761 medals had been issued. Anna Raines was co-founder and Vice President of the United Daughters of the Confederacy in 1894 and served as the organization's Honorary President General from 1905 until her death in 1915.
The Cross of Honor could only be bestowed through the UDC. It could not be purchased; it was given in recognition of loyal, honorable service to the South and only a Confederate veteran could wear it. It was available to any branch of the Confederate military. Only living veterans were eligible. However the final award was given posthumously, in 1951 to Rear Adm. Raphael Semmes. The program ended in 1959.
Although the last verified Confederate veteran died in 1951, a Virginia Code still in effect makes it a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine of not more than $500, to "wear any Southern Cross of Honor when not entitled to do so by the regulations under which such Crosses of Honor are given." Wearing the Cross was never authorized on any U.S. military uniforms.
The Cross of Honor is also used as an emblem or marker on the graves of Confederate veterans. It can only be issued by the Department of Veterans Affairs to be placed on graves of eligible Confederate veterans. Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans of the Thomson Guards, Camp 91 have maintained or replaced many of the 103 grave markers in this cemetery over the years under the leadership of Camp Commander Tom Holley. There are still markers that need to be placed on several unmarked veterans’ graves but procuring them in the marketplace has been difficult. The excellent condition of this cemetery today is due primarily to the untiring efforts of SCV Commander Holley with the participation of compatriot David Moore, his cemetery crew and members of the Thomson Guards.
Source: Article provided from Wikipedia by Camp Historian Lewis Smith.
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Thomson Memorial Cemetery