Used by Permission Used by Permission DESCENDANTS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS A TEXAS BASED ASSOCIATION WITH CHAPTERS IN TEXAS & SOUTH CAROLINA www.dcvtx.org WINTER 2013 value and treasure as Southerners, and something we definitely wish to propagate and preserve. PRESIDENT S MESSAGE: Thank you Children of the Confederacy, and thank Ladies and Gentlemen of the DCV, you South Carolina for making this a special year for me! First, I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy This will more than likely be the last time I will Holiday Season as we enjoy the love we have for address you as President of the Board in the one another and the strength we derive from our Newsletter. Soon it will be time for another to take family and friends through those bonds. My thanks the office and add his or her particular imprint on go out to those who put in all their hard work this it. This will happen in March after the marker past year. It has been a year I will never forget. dedication. I cannot stress or overstate the As the year nears end it always seems natural to importance of the unveiling and the dedication of reminisce about the events which occurred during this Texas State Historical Marker to our the year which occupy a special place in our hearts. organization. This is a culmination of years of effort It is no different with me. There were some and planning and is the virtual embodiment of our personal and private moments of course, and they mission to honor our ancestors and preserve our should and will remain personal and private. But heritage. This is the essence of why we exist as an this is all about the organization, The Descendants organization. Please plan to be there and watch it of Confederate Veterans, and I would like to unfold before your very eyes. Come be a part of mention two special events which highlighted this history and when you come, plan to stay just a wee past year for me. The first is the opportunity I had bit longer and come to the convention later the to speak to the full membership and general same day. convention of the Children of the Confederacy, I am deeply appreciative of the opportunity to Texas Division. My speech was so well received by serve both you and the Cause for the past two those in attendance just the thought of it continues years. I hope I have met and perhaps exceeded to warm my heart. As a speaker you always know if your expectations as Board President. In my mind, I you are connecting with your audience or no, and have remained true to our mission at all times. But when you do, and you get that feeling, it is really whether or not I have succeeded is not up to me; something special. I truly enjoyed speaking to them that will be decided by our membership and our and they knew it. It was very rewarding and rare. posterity. Secondly, the invitation to come to South Carolina With my warmest and most sincere Holiday and spend a few days with some of the members Greetings, there, along with the honor of being the featured speaker at the 1st Lt. W. E. James Chapter meeting J. D. Boydstun, President, Board of Directors was a distinct honor and pleasure. The hospitality Descendants of Confederate Veterans and generosity shown to me does justice to the Texas and South Carolina Societies ideal of Southern hospitality, something we all still
CONFEDERATE WOMAN S HOME TEXAS HISTORICAL MARKER It was reported in the Fall 2013 issue of the DCV Traveller the Woman s Home marker had received final approval from the Texas Historical Commission. I am extremely happy and proud to announce the marker was delivered to the Capitol Chapter in Austin on December 19 th. The Historical Markers Project was launched in 2009 to sponsor the placement of historical markers for the Confederate Men s Home and Confederate Woman s Home. Sponsor the placement of historical markers is a polite way to say pay for historical markers. After the DCV s successful placement of the Confederate Men s Home marker in October 2011 we were contacted by the Texas Division Children of the Confederacy asking to partner with the DCV to sponsor the marker for the Confederate Woman s Home. Raising funds for the marker would be the 2012 2013 C of C President s Project. C of C President Miss Taylor Shepeard and all the members of the C of C did a tremendous job and raised enough funds to cover the entire cost of the marker. The unveiling and dedication ceremony will be at the original Confederate Woman s Home building in Austin on March 22 nd 2014. The Dedication will coincide with the DCV annual reunion/convention March 21 st & 22 nd in Austin, Texas. DCV ANNUAL REUNION LOCATION AND DATE CHANGED TO AUSTIN MARCH 21 22 2014 At the 2013 mid year DCV Board meeting Galveston, Texas was selected for the 2014 annual reunion/convention. It was later determined the only date available to have the Texas Confederate Woman s Home marker unveiling and dedication ceremony was March 22 nd 2014. That date being so close to the original reunion date of February 22 nd the Board voted to move the reunion to Austin to coincide with the Confederate Woman s Home marker dedication. Now is the time to make plans to attend. A ton of effort and a ton of hours by a lot of folks went into obtaining this long overdue and vitally important marker. I agree with President Boydston, please do not miss this opportunity to be a part of this historic event. In addition to this newsletter you will find attached to your email an information sheet that all members are asked to respond to. Successful planning for the dedication and reunion depends greatly on the cooperation of the membership to respond. Please, all members, including those in the Austin area that will not require lodging respond to the information being requested. Confederate Woman s Home Marker Sorry, but you have to come to Austin March 22 nd to see it unveiled.
PRESIDENT BOYDSTUN TRAVELS TO SOUTH CAROLINA DARLINGTON SWEET POTATO FESTIVAL October 13, 2013 On September 16 th President Boydstun (call him J.D.) attended the meeting of the 1 st Lt. W.E. James Chapter. J.D. gave a presentation on the Red River Campaign. President Boydstun giving a presentation on the Red River Campaign at the meeting of the 1 st Lt W.E. James Chapter. DCV MOTTO: GOD, TRUTH, HONOR, HERITAGE Midlands Chapter President Eddie Oliver accepts the Chapter charter from DCV President Boydstun. 1st Lt W.E. James Chapter Booth Patrick Coxe and Mary Long with their membership certificates. Midlands Chapter Booth. 1 st Lt W.E. James President Bill Broom greeting visitors to the booth
1 st Lt W.E. JAMES CHAPTER MEETING OCTOBER 12, 2013 VETERANS DAY PARADE IN AUSTIN, TEXAS NOVEMBER 11, 2013 The Capitol Chapter in Austin entered the DVC in the annual Austin/Travis County Veterans Day parade for the 8 th consecutive year. The parade travels up Congress Avenue for ten blocks to the gates of the State Capitol. The parade gains in popularity each year. The DCV entry is always received with great enthusiasm from the spectators. It s a great feeling to represent our Confederate ancestors in a tribute to America s Veterans. Phil Salvo being sworn into the DCV 1 ST Lt W.E. James Chapter by President Bill Broom Steve & Lyn von Roeder pose on the Congress Avenue Bridge over the Colorado River. Professor Ben Blair speaking on the Cash/Shannon Duel in 1880. President Broom presents Professor Blair with a Certificate of Appreciation for his program Terry Ayers & Doug Ayers
VETERANS DAY PARADE Cont. FALL FEST Cont. Terry Ayers, Steve von Roeder, Lyn von Roeder, John Tyler, Doug Ayers Steve von Roeder Prepare to fire Defiance DRIPPING SPRINGS, TEXAS FALL FESTIVAL The Capitol Chapter was invited for the 8th consecutive year to participate in the annual Fall Fest on the grounds of the historic settlement (established 1859) of Dripping Springs founder Dr. J.M. Pound. Dr. Pound served as a Surgeon in the Confederate States Army. Jim Price & Sam Bennett LOAD Lyn von Roeder (behind DCV flag), Jean Price, Jim Price & Sam Bennett great visitors Lyn von Roeder FIRE
FALL FEST cont. GRAVE DEDICATION IN POOLVILLE, TEXAS NOVEMBER 16, 2013 DCV members, DCV/MOS&B members from the Brownwood, Texas area join members of the MOS&B to participate in a memorial service for Pvt. William Henry Alston, a Confederate veteran, a soldier in Company E, 4th Regiment of the Alabama Volunteer Militia BOOM (car alarms) Bert Heil, Sam Bennett, Jim Price, Steve von Roeder Gary L. Loudermilk, Ewell Loudermilk, DCV founder Gary M. Loudermilk (4 th from left) his wife DCV member Dorothy Loudermilk (5 th from left). Gary L, Ewell and Gary M. are also MOS&B members. Jean Price, Steve von Roeder, Jim Price, Sam Bennett L R: DCV Members Ewell Loudermilk, DCV founder, Blacklands Chapter member Jim Templin, and Gary L. Loudermilk.
PRIVATE WILLIAM HENRY ALSTON, CO. E. 4 TH REGIMENT, ALABAMA VOLUNTEER MILITA (cont.) CAPITOL CHAPTER NOVEMBER MEETING DCV founder Gary M. Loudermilk giving opening remarks Capitol Chapter President Steve von Roeder presents new member Ryan Curbow his DCV membership certificate and pin. Gary L. Loudermilk presenting the youngest attendee a set of Confederate Coins. Judy Curbow, Curbow family historian and Mother of new member Ryan Curbow gives the Capitol Chapter a presentation of the life and Confederate States Army service of Ryan s gggg grandfather Tilman P. Curbow. Tilman Curbow served in the 6th Arkansas Infantry. Having fulfilled his enlistment, Pvt. Curbow was discharged. He headed straight for Texas where he and a brother enlisted in Nelson s Company of the 2nd Battalion Cavalry, Texas State Troops. Judy continues to search her own family ancestry for a Confederate ancestor so she too will be eligible to join the DCV. Singing DIXIE GOOD LUCK JUDY
CAPITOL CHAPTER DONATES TO OPERATION BLUE SANTA For the 8 th consecutive year the Capitol Chapter made a donation to Austin Operation Blue Santa. Blue Santa is the Capitol Chapter s Flagship donation to the community. Blue Santa provides needy families with a full holiday meal and wrapped Christmas gifts for each child under the age of 14. Popular country music radio station KOKE hosts the Blue Santa Breakfast and remote broadcast while accepting donations. Veteran radio personality Bob Cole is a friend of the Capitol Chapter and always gives the DCV an on air plug. THE BACK PAGE EDITORIAL I cannot close out this edition of the TRAVELLER without taking one more opportunity to encourage everyone to come to Austin in March for the annual membership reunion and dedication of the Texas Historical Marker for the Confederate Woman s Home. The DCV and the fine work it does will be on public display. The DCV is your organization and needs your support. Please remember to send me your newsletter items. I wish each and every one of you a very Merry Christmas and a safe and prosperous new year. Steve von Roeder presents KOKE Radio personality with a donation from the Capitol Chapter to Austin Operation Blue Santa. Janie Corbin and Old Jack Mort Kunstler Steve von Roeder being interviewed live on Austin television station CBS affiliate KEYE. Steve and wife Lyn also volunteer on Delivery Day. IN THEIR OWN W0RDS I was a Confederate soldier and fought under General Price, Tenth Missouri Infantry. I was captured at Helena, Arkansas 4 th of July `63, and taken to Alton, Illinois where I stayed eight months. From there I was taken to Ft. Delaware and remained twelve months, so I knew how Confederate prisoners were treated. The period of my prison life was the most unbearable part of my Army life. We suffered so much Burton R. Elliott Keller, Texas March, 1896 End