Our first meeting of the year will be informative as well as entertaining. Al Arnold will be our speaker! He is a black guy who has written a book about his ancestors that served in the Civil War. For those who missed the talk in Octo-ber, here is your last chance. For those who did hear the talk, this is your opportunity to invite a guest and get a signed copy of the book. We will have new members to bring into the camp, up-dates on upcoming events, and a great speaker!

So, bring someone with you, invite a friend, come early, and as sure as we need everyone's support to have a successful new year, I will probably see you at Penn's of Brandon on January 2, 2016 at 7pm.

Volume IX

C O M M A N D E R ’ S RE P O R T

Issue 1

SCV 265 Online

• www.scv265.com

• Facebook: www.facebook.com/scv265

• Twitter:

@scv265

I N S I D E T H I S I S S U E :

Adjutant’s Report 2

Chaplain’s Report 3

Agenda –Jan 4

Relic Show Update 4

Sponsors 5

S O N S O F C O N F E D E R A T E V E T E R A N S C A M P 2 6 5

D E C E M B E R C A M P M E E T I N G

Mr. Al Arnold, author of Robert E. Lee’s Orderly, will be our Jan. Camp speaker

Randy Richardson of the Dixie Hummingsbirds performed

Potluck Dinner was enjoyed

Ralph Smitherman reads the Nativity scene from the Book of Luke

IN GOD WE TRUST

The last act of Congress ever signed by President Lincoln was on requiring that the motto. . .“IN GOD WE TRUST” should hereafter be inscribed upon all our national coin. The motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST,” was inscribed in the U. S. House Chamber above the Speaker’s rostrum; above the Senate’s main southern door; on a tribute block inside the Washington Monument; and on a stained-glass window in the U. S. Capitol’s Chapel. President Truman stated October 30, 1949: When the U. S. was established. . .the motto was “IN GOD WE TRUST.” That is still our motto and we still place our firm trust in God. On July 11, 1954, a month after the phrase “under God” was incorporated into the Pledge of Allegiance, Congress enacted Public Law 84-140 which put the motto, “IN GOD WE TRUST”, on all national coins and currency. In 1956, the phrase “IN GOD WE TRUST’ was legally adopted by Congress as the United States’ National Motto. John F. Kennedy stated February 9, 1961: The guiding principle of the Nation has been, is now, and ever shall be, ‘IN GOD WE TRUST.” President Reagan stated in his National Day of Prayer proclamation, March 19, 1981: Our Nation’s motto, IN GOD WE TRUST – was not chosen lightly. In reflects a basic recogni-tion that there is a divine authority in the universe to which this Nation owes homage. President George H. W. Bush met with Amish and Mennonites at Penn Johns Elementary School in Lancaster, PA, March 22, 1989. When a Mennonite leader stated: “We want to keep that theme, ‘IN GOD WE TRUST,” which is stamped on our money,” President Bush replied: “Its staying there. Nobody can knock that off.” In 2011, the House of Representatives passed an additional resolution reaffirming ‘IN GOD WE TRUST” as the official motto of the United States in a 396-9 vote. On March 7, 2011, the Supreme Court denied the challenge by an atheist who was intolerant of the National Motto by letting the decision of a Federal Appeals Court stand. From Miracles in American History by William J. Federer

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A D J U TA N T ’S RE P O R T B Y S I D B O T E L E R

Volume IX

SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS CAMP 265 Page 3

The Gray Line I wrote the following story many years past and it has remained in my heart and mind to share. I hope you will receive a blessing in reading the Gray Line. I awoke the other morning early before dawn and as is my custom to set the new day with prayer. As I sat by the window in the warmth and comfort of my home. I knew it was cold outside because of the moisture which had condensed on the inside of the window pane. Not being able to see out the window I reached out and touched the window pane with my hand. Water ran down the inside of the window as my hand brushed its surface which some-how reminded me of tears as if someone would wipe their eyes to see. Through the window now could be seen the dripping of water from the roof as the heavy frost lost its frozen grip. The fields were white and vegetation was observed bend over with its burden soon to be set free by the rising of the morning sun. Light became more with each passing moment as night fled from where it had been. The woods and the fields now stood apart as if to set the stage for that which was to come. I waited faithfully and in expectation and was not disappointed. A few hundred yards across the open field the woods which had sheltered the darkness of shadow now brought forth a gray fog. I watched from my window as the mass of gray began to move ever slowly out from under the distanced trees and then in a pace as a man would walk across an open field it moved even more with unshakeable resolve. And with each passing second the mass of fog could be seen moving ever faster as it drew closer. Often I have seen fog rising from a ponds, lakes, and open fields as the warmth of the morn-ing sun was soon to lift it up. And yet this mass of gray fog remained unmoved from its mission and unbroken as it steadfastly made its way forward as if men were marching shoul-der to shoulder. Often our God comforts us with the remembrance of times past. Let us never forget those who fought for a just cause. Let us never forget that unbroken Gray Line is not just those who fought some 150 years ago during the War of Aggression. The gray fog that I saw that morning was not a fog that disappears. Although it had first ap-peared as a fog seen through my window that morning. It became clearer to reveal that it was an army of soldiers, the Confederate Soldier, the Sons of Confederate Veterans, Camps, Divisions, and Generations of those who hold to the Just Cause of Southern Heritage and the remembrance of the Confederate Soldier. It is my prayer that as we enter into the new year that each of us become stronger in faith and service for we are all a part of that Lone Gray Line, standing shoulder to shoulder un-broken and unturned from our just cause. God Bless

CHAPLAIN’ S REPORT B Y T H O M A S F O R T E N B E R R Y

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Open with prayer at 7pm sharp • Pledge of allegiance to the US flag and salutes • Trivia • Guest speaker: Mr. Al Arnold • Q & A • Adopt minutes from November 7, 2015 – make a motion, second, discus-sion, vote Unfinished business • Camp T-shirts are $20 – proceeds go to fund the Relic Show • www.scv265.com and stats • First Thursday Coin Club meeting at Brandon library 6:30pm • Dues are now $75 – Through July 31st, 2017 • Franklin Relic Show report • Gun Show report • Library workday report New business • New members • Get Mr. Al Arnold to sign a book for you after the meeting! • Door prizes • Close with prayer at approximately 8:20pm ~ Please leave a dollar tip for the cleanup crew~

AGENDA F O R JA N UA RY M E E T I N G

-We will have a 2nd Library Work Day on March 19th, 2016. -The Franklin Civil War Show produced 10 more tables for our show and a lot of good leads! -We have sold 150 tables for our show as of 12-16-2015. -Money is raised by selling ads in our newsletter or solicit-ing donations. Any help with this endeavor would be greatly appreciated by all of us at Camp 265. -We also need to find people willing to do a living history at our Relic Show.

2016 RE L I C SH OW UP DAT E

2015 Franklin, TN Civil War Show

SONS OF CONFEDERATE VETERANS CAMP 265 Page 5

***Our Next Meeting is Saturday, Jan. 2nd at Penn’s in Brandon on Hwy. 80 at 7pm. Come Early!***