2012 National Memorial Day Parade May 28th

The Nation’s Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C., Monday May 28th, was another successful (and steamy) gathering and we greatly appreciate and thank all of the participants who turned out.  The Camp and Chapter participants were: Rev. Richard Edgar, Camp Commander Jim Becker and his wife Carol, Adjutant JJ Smith, MOS&B member Bill Price and… Continue reading »

View full post

2012 Alexandria Confederate Memorial Day May 24th

The evening started at 6:00 with the MOS&B Samuel Cooper Chapter Annual Service of Remembrance at Christ Church which was excellent.  Rev. Edgar gave an eloquent homily on the honor and integrity of the Confederate Soldier. Following the service we went to the mass gravesite where Commander Nicholas Ward led the service and called out… Continue reading »

View full post

We Need You

You are the future of the camp and we need you. If you read the article on the 2012 National Memorial Day Parade, the R.E. Lee Camp had the pleasure and honor of joining with fellow groups from the SCV, Living Historians portraying Leaders, Soldiers, and Ladies of the Old South to create an extremely… Continue reading »

View full post

Video links of the R.E. Lee Camp marching in local parades

The following link displays the R.E. Lee Camp and fellow compatriots in the 2011Washington DC National Memorial Day Parade.  The video was edited and posted by the camp Sergeant at Arms, Phil Logan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2F4mNYRVgM The Alexandria 2011 George Washington’s Birthday Parade was an outstanding success for Southern Heritage. A video of the Parade was produced… Continue reading »

View full post

2012 George Washington Birthday Parade

Under the most excellent leadership of Color Sergeant Scott Van Ness, R.E. Lee Camp 726 and it’s commander, Jim Becker, and his wife Carol along with many other members of the camp were joined by many historically minded groups to make an outstanding presence during this Sesquicentennial period (1861-1865).  Congratulations and a special thank you to all those who participated… Continue reading »

View full post
2012 National Memorial Day Parade May 28th 2012 Alexandria Confederate Memorial Day May 24th We Need You Video links of the R.E. Lee Camp marching in local parades 2012 George Washington Birthday Parade

Jun
08

2012 National Memorial Day Parade May 28th

by

The Nation’s Memorial Day Parade in Washington D.C., Monday May 28th, was another successful (and steamy) gathering and we greatly appreciate and thank all of the participants who turned out.  The Camp and Chapter participants were: Rev. Richard Edgar, Camp Commander Jim Becker and his wife Carol, Adjutant JJ Smith, MOS&B member Bill Price and his wife Marsha, Ron Kirby, and our parade organizer, Bob Brown.

Marsha Price, Bob Brown, Carol Becker, Bill Price, J.J. Smith, and Ron KirbyEd Creasy and his horse RangerColor Sgt Ray Rooks leading the Maryland Color GuardR.E. Lee Camp Banner

Memorial Day is the unofficial start of summer, however you could have thought it was summer on this day. It was humid and a sweltering 93 degrees, yet all persevered and their dedication to the cause cannot be doubted following this performance as compatriots gathered for the Annual National Capital Memorial Day Parade in Washington DC, which has the most attendance with the largest number of spectators. The parade started at 2:00 and at 3:00 the Parade halts for a moment of silence for the Soldiers of America who died in the Wars of the Past. We represent the Confederates, as they group military eras in chronological order in this parade. We followed the Mexican War soldiers. It was quite a sight for all to see, and we were there in force. We were in the area of the Reviewing Stand as Maryland presented the Colors and we were called to stop. The TV Camera was right in front of us as we stood there for the moment of silence, “Taps”, the fly over, and the singing of Amazing Grace. Wow, on national TV via FOX, we were front and center with the flags flying in a light breeze showing all in Washington the glory of the Confederate soldiers, generals, and Flags! We marched in Remembrance of the Confederate Soldier, and all can see that WE ARE A BAND OF BROTHERS!

Our participants included: The Civil War Eagles with Lee’s Lieutenants portraying Generals of the Confederate and Union Armies: Gen Gordon (Ron Cole), Gen Grant (Don McConnel), Gen Cooper (Drew Pallo), Gen Sherman (Jim Opdenaker), Gen Armistead (Dennis Cole), Gov William “Extra Billy” Smith (Dave Meisky), Gen Ewell (Chris Godart), Gen Early (Mike Sipes), Gen Gregg (Tony Virando), Capt Sally Thompkins (Rosie Thoburn), Laura Ratcliffe (Amy Beechler), Sherman Family (Chris, Rachel and Hannah Opdeneker), Jessica Godart, and Mark (friend of Capt Sally Thompkins dressed as a Confederate soldier)); Commander Ed Creasy with Holly Hueston on horseback and Brandon Mantell on manure clean-up; Maryland Line Field Music led by Joe Whitney (fife) and drummers Walt Mathers and Patrick Kelly; then our camp and banner followed by Frank Stringfellow Camp, SCV, with Commander David Stringfellow, Mike Shumaker, and Dan Fedorko; Maryland SCV and Color Guard led by  Color Sergeant Ray Rooks with: John Zebelean, Mike Sipes, Craig Gotschall, and Bill Fronk; with Bowling Camp: Cmdr Bob Parker and Jim Dunbar; Order of the Confederate Rose: Liz Groszer; Trimble Camp: Maryland Div Cmdr Jay Barringer; Waddell Camp: Brandon Gehrt and Brian Gehrt; and Maryland Line Camp: Mike Hinton; and Breckenridge Carriage, driver Art Magner.

The Maryland Division SCV Color Guard is a period Color Guard that is patriotic and historic in its presentation of Confederate flags. The Color Guard was created in 2000 under the command of Color Sergeant Ray Rooks. The current Maryland Division Commander, Jay Barringer (bagpiper), is a proud member of the Color Guard

Additional pictures and a short video may be viewed at: http://pix.kg/p/7827024701103%3A171827953/scl or http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lL6M9SnDfAo

This post has no tag

Comments Off

Jun
08

2012 Alexandria Confederate Memorial Day May 24th

by

The evening started at 6:00 with the MOS&B Samuel Cooper Chapter Annual Service of Remembrance at Christ Church which was excellent.  Rev. Edgar gave an eloquent homily on the honor and integrity of the Confederate Soldier. Following the service we went to the mass gravesite where Commander Nicholas Ward led the service and called out each name of the soldiers who rest there. Members of the SCV and MOS&B were given a rose to lay on the headstone as the name of each soldier was called.

Following the service members walked down to the garden party and dinner at the Mary Custis Lee UDC R.E. Lee Camp Hall at 806 Prince Street. We thank the men who helped setup and clean up and President Debby Mullins and the UDC ladies for allowing us to make use of the building and gardens.  We appreciated the time spent getting to know the ladies that attended and hope they enjoyed the dinner and fellowship of the men.

It was a wonderful evening to honor our ancestors and those who gave their all for the Southern cause. Commander Becker inducted Sgt. Steven Michael Cole and Perry Keating as we welcomed them into the camp prior to enjoying the Dixie Bones BBQ buffet. We had time before the rain started to fall to enjoy ourselves before we had to say good night and quickly clean up, thank you all.

A few pictures follow of the induction and some of the group who gathered to honor our Confederate ancestors.

Sgt. Steven Michael Cole and Perry KeatingR.E. Lee Camp membersJoan Smith, Patrick Cleburne Toma and his father Raymond (Danny) Toma, members of Jefferson Davis Camp # 635 of South Carolina

 A collection of pictures may be viewed at: http://pix.kg/p/5025867601103%3A782212207/scl

This post has no tag

Leave comment

Apr
26

We Need You

by

You are the future of the camp and we need you. If you read the article on the 2012 National Memorial Day Parade, the R.E. Lee Camp had the pleasure and honor of joining with fellow groups from the SCV, Living Historians portraying Leaders, Soldiers, and Ladies of the Old South to create an extremely impressive presence in the National Memorial Day Parade.  Our contingents included equestrians, musicians, color guards, portrayals of the high officers and foot soldiers of the Confederacy and a horse drawn carriage carrying ladies in costume portraying southern womanhood.  As this event was broadcast live on FOX, our message of Southern Heritage and Honor was presented to thousands across the Nation as we stayed in front of the reviewing stand during the moment of silence, Taps, the flyover, and the singing of Amazing Grace.

I want to thank our camp/chapter members and the members of the participating groups listed in the article, who worked with us to send our message to the public.  Thank you all for your commitment and participation at this event in this second year of the Sesquicentennial of the War Between The States. We honored our Veterans and all American Veterans.  For a moment in time, the streets of the Capital belonged to us.  Congratulations!!

I urge all camp members to participate in our public events as we do not want to become a camp that basically meets, greets, and eats.  We are offered truly unique opportunities to display the Battle Flag in public.  The day we cannot muster enough participants to take this opportunity and use it to the fullest will be the day our history is consigned to the dark corners of museums and will cease to be a living heritage.  Join us as we experience the cheers and salutes of the public when they see the Battle Flag.  Share the feeling of having done your duty to honor your ancestor(s) before the public as the Camp and Color Guard need new recruits. Our next parade will be the George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria, VA, February 18th 2013. If you are interested in joining us, volunteering to help us, or desire to become a camp officer please let me know, you may also contact Bob Brown at: rbrown7581@aol.com. 

Deo Vindice,
Jim Becker
Camp Commander
beckerjim@gmail.com

This post has no tag

Comments Off

Feb
23

Video links of the R.E. Lee Camp marching in local parades

by

The following link displays the R.E. Lee Camp and fellow compatriots in the 2011Washington DC National Memorial Day Parade.  The video was edited and posted by the camp Sergeant at Arms, Phil Logan. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2F4mNYRVgM

The Alexandria 2011 George Washington’s Birthday Parade was an outstanding success for Southern Heritage. A video of the Parade was produced and posted to YouTube by Sergeant at Arms Phil Logan using images captured by Richard Fickling, thank you both. You may view the video by going to:

To view the camp in the 2009 National Memorial Day Parade in Washington DC go to:

This post has no tag

Comments Off

Feb
22

2012 George Washington Birthday Parade

by

Under the most excellent leadership of Color Sergeant Scott Van Ness, R.E. Lee Camp 726 and it’s commander, Jim Becker, and his wife Carol along with many other members of the camp were joined by many historically minded groups to make an outstanding presence during this Sesquicentennial period (1861-1865).  Congratulations and a special thank you to all those who participated in this year’s Washington’s Birthday Parade in Old Town Alexandria.  What a beautiful day for a parade.  Participants included members of the Maryland Division Color Guard, the Frank Stringfellow Camp #822, the Clinton Hatcher Camp #21, the Liberty Hall Fife & Drum Corps led by Joe Whitney, all marching with Compatriots from the R.E. Lee Camp #726.  Missing in action was Capt. Ed Creasy, who was trapped near Charlottesville by the snow that did not reach us on Sunday night.  He sent his regrets and promised to see us next time.
 
Special thanks to Joan and J.J. Smith for opening their home to us, as we assembled for the parade on Wilkes St.  A grateful salute of thanks to the Mary Custis Lee – 17th VA Regt. Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy R.E. Lee Camp Hall at 806 Prince St., whose hospitality awaited those, who reached parade’s end.  What a pleasant end to one of our best parade efforts ever. WE ARE A BAND of BROTHERS!

Some pictures follow with a link to all of the pictures aat the bottom.

Pre-parade reception at the home of J.J. & Joan Smith

 

R.E. Lee Camp Banner

 

Liberty Hall Fife & Drum Corps led by Joe Whitney

 

Maryland Division Color Guard led by Ray Rooks

To view all the pictures taken that day click on the following link: http://pix.kg/p/9965140380103%3A632232278/scl

This post has no tag

Comments Off

Jan
19

2012 Annual R.E. Lee Banquet at BHCC

by

The R.E. Lee Banquet celebrating the General’s 205th birthday was a resounding success. Camp member, Bob Montague, spoke eloquently on his great-great maternal grandfather, John Cabell Breckinridge and he had many family artifacts on display. The ceremony, presentation, food, and fellowship were exceptional. We also awarded Jim Whitehead a 25-year recognition medal for his quarter-of-a-century membership in the camp. Our annual Banquet is well worth your time and investment.  We send out a special THANK YOU to our Banquet Patrons and Sponsors. Please plan on joining us next year and sponsoring your ancestors.  Mark your calendars for the General’s 206th birthday banquet on Saturday January 19th, 2013. 

Speaker Bob Montague and Commander Jim Becker

 

Hon. Richard Bender Abell with Jim Whitehead, John O. Goddin, Wells Goddin, and the Rev. John Lewis Roddy

 

Kim and Mary Jane Holien with Terri and Doug Batson (Gen. & Mrs. D.H. Hill)

All of the pictures may be viewed by clicking-on this link: http://www.kodakgallery.com/gallery/sharing/shareRedirectSwitchBoard.jsp?token=4148720570103%3A293753912

This post has no tag

Comments Off

Sep
23

Welcome from Camp Commander Jim Becker

by

Welcome to our web-site where we hope you will find useful information about our camp and our activities and where prospective members can find the information they need.   Hopefully you will find links to relevant sites and to key camp personnel who can address any questions you may have.  It is my hope to grow the camp roster through a multitude of excellent gatherings with our compatriots to strengthen our resolve and relationships in a manner that would make General Lee proud. We have volunteer opportunities in the camp if you would consider offering your time and talents to learn, serve, and build life-long relationships with fellow compatriots.  Let me know if you are interested in taking on some responsibility and we will work with you.  You are the future of the camp and we need you.

Key points of contact within the camp are:

Camp Commander – Jim Becker…….………………….. BeckerJim@gmail.com

Camp Adjutant & Treasurer - J.J. Smith…………….. jossmith@mba1962.hbs.edu

Lieutenant Commander – Harry Day…………………. h53ncrgt@gmail.com

We have had many successful events, look for details in the past and current General Orders and also the past events Tab(click on General Orders Tab or Past Events Tab across the top of the website home page) .

Please mark your calendars to reserve the dates for our upcoming events that you will certainly want to consider attending (see right side of Home webpage):

Up-coming 2013 events follow:

Sunday April 21st – Cooper Chapter MOS&B hosting a tour at the NRA with McKim Symington

Friday May 24th – Confederate Memorial Day services with dinner following (see page 1)

Monday May 27th – Nation’s Memorial Day parade in Washington DC

Sunday June 2nd – DC UDC 11:00 a.m. Memorial Service at The Arlington National Cemetery Confederate Memorial, Jackson Circle, in Honor of Confederate President Jefferson Davis’ 205th Birthday

Sunday June 23rd – Annual Mint Julep and Cigar Garden Party 4:00 – 7:00 at the home of Robert Latane Montague, III at 119 S. Lee Street in Alexandria behind The Athenaeum Museum

Saturday September 28th – Annual Camp BBQ at Tunnel Flats in Alexandria 4:00 – 8:00.

Past 2013 events follow (see the recent General Orders for details):

Saturday January 19th was the  R.E. Lee 206th Birthday Banquet at Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria, VA.  Our speaker: Ann Graham, past chapter president of the Alexandria Mary Custis Lee 17th VA Reg #7 UDC, presented detailed accounts of the first 50 years of our camp, the R.E. Lee Camp #726 SCV.  This was a very successful event.  Go to the January 2013 General Orders for details.

Saturday February 2nd, 11:00 AM, the Crypt, US Capitol “DC Division UDC” commemoration of 206th Birthday of RE Lee (see the February 2013 General Orders for details).

Monday February 18th the George Washington Birthday Parade in Alexandria, VA was another grand event where we were joined by many different SCV camps and groups in Virginia and Maryland.  Two of the groups that joined us were awarded 2nd place for their catagory (see the February 2013 General Orders for pictures and details).

Monday March 4th Dinner meeting with speaker William Connery, author of Civil War Northern Virginia 1861 (See March General Orders for details).

Monday April 1st Dinner meeting with D.H. Hill, played by our own Doug Batson and his wife Terri, come and witness ”I will Not Submit to the Swindle!” (see April General Orders for details).

2012 was a very successful year, see the General Orders Tab for details, a summary of our events follows:

The Monday March 5th Camp dinner was well attended and MOS&B Commander Nicholas Ward’s talk on “The Battle of the Ironclads”  was eloquent and informative (see post above for a link to Nick’s complete paper).  We inducted Freeman Epes Jones and Christopher Paul Blah.  Pictures of the evening can be viewed at the following link:
http://pix.kg/p/8681294680103%3A527852325/scl

Monday Monday April 2nd Dinner meeting (speaker Eric Buckland, topic Mosby’s men) was a hugh success with 54 people in attendance (See May General Orders for details).

Thursday May 24th the General Samuel Cooper Chapter #105 MOS&B Service of Remembrance for Confederate Memorial Day at Christ Church was very respectful given some of our restrictions and the garden party and BBQ dinner at the UDC R.E. Lee Camp Hall at 806 Prince Street was delightful (See the June General Orders for details).

Monday May 28th our Nation’s Memorial Day Parade was very well attended and worth our time and involvement (See the June General Orders for details as this was a fantastic event).

Sunday June 24th the annual Mint Julep and Cigar Garden Party at the historic home of Bob Montague in Alexandria behind The Athenaeum Museum wass a resounding success (See the July General Orders for details).

Saturday, September 22nd Annual BBQ/Steak Fry, Todd Lewis’ courtyard, Red Hot and Blue to catered, we raised support for the SCV Samuel Davis Youth Camps (See the October General Orders for details).

Monday November 5th Dinner meeting with speaker Rich Gillespsie of the Mosby Heritage Area Association gave an informative talk and slide show on the topic of “Mosby, Katy’s Hollow, and You” which was a very well done and received.  See the November General Orders  for details. 

Monday December 3rd We had the re-dedication of the R.E. Lee Portrait which the camp donated to Alexandria on January 19, 1963.  The ceremony was held at 6:00 in the City Council Chambers. We restored the painting and added a plaque giving the specifics of its origin and history. Following the portrait rededication was the Annual Christmas party at the American Legion Hall next to Gadsby’s Tavern hosted by the MOS&B (and SCV) and this was another outstanding event for our members.  Do review the December 2012 General Orders for details.

For additional information about the camp or our events you may email me or the camp adjutant.  I do hope that you will be able to come and join us for great food, drink, and fellowship at any of the above events and I hope that you will consider joining our ranks.  I hope that you have an exciting and fulfilling 2013 and I look forward to meeting you at any of the events listed above or in the Events section of the front page.

Deo Vindice, Cmdr Jim Becker

This post has no tag

Comments Off