from Carl W. Roden
Confederate Memorial Day Observance and Parade in Columbia, South Carolina on May 5, 2012. It was a lovely sunny day in Dixie with fairly moderate temperatures for this time of year in South Carolina, about the lower 80s F. South Carolina honors Confederate Memorial Day State Holiday on May 10th every year. Every year on first Saturday of May, the South Carolina Divisions of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) and the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) hold two memorial services and a parade in honor of the 26,600 men and boys of the Palmetto State who gave their lives in defense of Southern Independence during the War Between The States (American Civil War, War for Southern Independence) 1861-1865. This celebration in honor of the Southern dead actually begins the night before with volunteers taking turns reading the names of the honored dead starting at sunset and going throughout the night. The next morning volunteers of the UDC and SCV arrive early to Columbia's Historic Elmwood Cemetery to decorate the graves at the Confederate section with battle flags and to raise each of the Confederate national flags and South Carolina State flag on poles at the site. In a show of Southern hospitality, the graves of Union soldiers at the site are likewise decorated with US flags....never let it be said Southerners are unkind to guests, even the uninvited ones (LOL!) The UDC Memorial Service for the Elmwood Cemetery dead begins around 10 AM with the arrival of Confederate Reenactors of the South Carolina Palmetto Battalion and the posting of the colors: The United States Flag, the South Carolina State Flag, and the Confederate Battle Flag Army of Northern Virginia. After an opening prayer and the salutes to each of the flags, the service continues with music and with speakers who talk about the dead buried beneath them, these speakers include the heads of the SC Divisions of the Sons of Confederate Veterans, United Daughters of the Confederacy, Children of the Confederacy, Military Order of the Stars and Bars, and the Order of the Confederate Rose. After this the representatives place a wreath Magnolia leaves at the grave of an Unknown Confederate Soldier. The Palmetto Battalion then fires three volleys over the graves, and a bugler plays "Taps" in honor of the Confederate dead. Following the Elmwood service, the Palmetto Battalion and representatives of the SCV and UDC and others, including guests, march from Elmwood Cemetery three miles through downtown Columbia, up Main Street to the South Carolina State Capitol for the SCV Memorial Service. This is usually led by the 16th SC Regiment Color Guard. The SCV service takes place in front of the Confederate Soldiers Monument on the South side of the State Capitol, which is likewise decorated with flags and flowers, and begins with the posting of the SC Divisions various Camp Colors and an opening prayer followed again by the salutes to the National, State and Confederate colors. Speakers from the SCV and others talk about the men who died and the virtues of their service in the honorable defense of their homes. The services conclude with the Palmetto Battalion firing another three shots into the air and more reenactors with period artillery pieces firing yet another three shots in memory of the dead. A closing prayer concludes the services. Every year since I have become a member of the Sons of Confederate Veterans (12 years to date) I have never failed to attend this service, feeling it is my duty to attend and to take part. More than just a duty though, it is a pleasure to attend and to meet others who share my love for our common Confederate ancestry. Over the years I have meet many different people, of all races, faiths, and sometimes from outside America, who share our love for the best of our Southern heritage. God Bless all of those who attended this year! Deo Vindice!
Από: Carl W. Roden
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