The
Captain Vincent Camalier, CSA Camp was chartered on January 8, 1979 in
Leonardtown, Maryland. The following members were honored to sign the
charter:
• Commander Robert Lee Haskins
• 1st Lt. Commander Thurston H. Baxter, Colonel USAF (Retired)
• Adjutant Alfred F. Gough Jr.
• Treasurer Wade Gilbert Dent, Jr.
• Historian Edwin W. Beitzell
• David Hammett, Sr.
• Wade Hampton Blackistone
• Bruce Edward Blackistone
• John Berkeley Lallande
• Frederick L. McCoy
• Gerald J. Sword
• James Ogden, III
• David Hammett, Jr.
• John H.B. Gough
• Alfred F. Gough, III
• Robert E.T. Pogue
POINT
LOOKOUT CERMONIES:
The Camalier Camp’s main event is hosting the annual Point Lookout
Confederate Memorial Service in Scotland, Maryland at the Monument/Cemetery
near Point Lookout State Park. The first memorial service was held in
1979 with only a handful of people in attendance. Since then, it has
grown to
almost 300 people attending with about 60 wreaths being presented. James
Bentley (J.B.) Couch was in charge of the service while camp commander
from 1991-1994, and for the 2002 ceremony, Joseph Leonard (Lennie) Thompson,
Jr. was in charge while camp commander from 1995-1998, and John Bernard
Stober, Jr. was in charge while both commander and adjutant from 1999-2001
and 2003. Camp Treasurer Douglas F. Delozier, and his wife Denise funded
the 2002 and 2003 ceremonies.
The
memorial service was historically held in June because the camp had
to work around the Point Lookout State
Park schedule. However since 2003,
the camp has ended its dealings with the park service and it was suggested
by Compatriot Stober that the time of year for the event should be
moved to the fall season. Rationale for this was numerous. The main
reason
was the summer heat. It typically has been over 100 degrees during
our service
and with people in suits, and participants such as the color guard
and the musket and artillery salute re-enactors wearing wool uniforms,
was
just a heat stroke waiting to happen. The other problems were dealing
with snakes, ticks, mosquitoes, etc. During the 2003 Point Lookout
POW Descendants
Organizations (PLPOW) living history, it was reported that the PLPOW
re-enactors encountered at least two snakes. This area has its share
of copperheads,
which as you know are poisonous. Ticks are rampant. They can transmit
both Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever, and Lyme’s Disease, which
Compatriot Stober contracted at Point Lookout in 1996. Now, we have
the dreaded
mosquitoes, which now can transmit West Nile Virus. All of these health
concerns prompted
Compatriot Stober to ask the Camalier Camp to move the event to the
fall. Working with Patricia Buck, PLPOW the camp agreed on the second
Saturday
in November (closest to Veteran’s Day) except in the case when
Veteran’s
Day falls on that Saturday, then the ceremony will be held on the first
Saturday in November. (Reason for this is because some of our camp
members also participate in the Veteran’s Day Parade in Leonardtown
every November 11).
In
May 1998, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) ordered the removal
of the Confederate Flag from the Point Lookout Confederate Cemetery
after it had been flying, with no incidents or complaints, for 5
years.
Past
Commander-In-Chief Patrick J. “Rick” Griffin, III sued
the VA and won, but the VA appealed and the decision was overturned,
again,
bringing the flag down in March 2001. Commander Griffin filed another
lawsuit in January 2003. However, because the flag is “legally” unable
to fly over the Confederate Cemetery, Compatriot Delozier sought
and received permission from the property owner directly behind the
cemetery,
Mr. Charles
Brown, Sr. for us to erect a flagpole and fly a Confederate Flag.
The flag was installed on June 1, 2003. The following Camalier Camp
members
installed
the pole: Commander Frank Willis, Tommy Newton, Jr., Doug Delozier,
and Past Commander J.B. Couch, who also donated the materials, pole
and flag.
Denise Delozier took photos, which appeared in the Confederate Veteran
Magazine. However, less then two weeks later before the June 14 ceremony,
the flagpole was vandalized and the flag stolen. On June 5, 2004,
the camp replaced it with a much sturdier 20’ steel flagpole,
which was purchased solely by Doug Delozier. Frank Willis, J.B. Couch,
Tommy
Newton,
Jr., and
Doug Delozier installed it. Denise took photos, as she did the first
time, for entry in the Confederate Veteran Magazine, again.
With
Confederate Memorial Park on the left flank of the cemetery, complete
with Confederate
Flags and the Camalier Camp bringing up
the rear with
the flag on Mr. Brown’s land, the cemetery is quickly being
surrounded by the beloved Confederate Flag, as it should be. Even
the VA Director
of Cemeteries, at the time, Ken Stoner stated, “That’s
one way to get back at the VA.”
SPECIAL
EVENTS & FUND-RAISERS:
•
Members of the Camalier Camp also participates at other events such as:
Lee-Jackson Day in Baltimore, Maryland Day, Memorial Day Parade, Flag Day
Parade, Independence Day (July 4) Parade, Blessing of the Fleet, Veteran’s
Day Parade, and other such events.
•
On October 2, 1993, the Camalier Camp, along with the Private Wallace Bowling
SCV Camp #1400 in La Plata, and the Colonel Richard Thomas “Zarvona”,
United Daughters of the Confederacy Chapter in Charlotte Hall erected a
plaque honoring Confederate Admiral Raphael Semmes at the Charlotte Hall
Veterans Home, which used to be the Charlotte Hall Military Academy from
where Admiral Semmes graduated. The Camalier Camp’s portion for the
plaque was paid for from a fund-raiser single-handedly operated by Compatriot
Stober. He personally sold almost 100 copies of “Religion in Lee’s
Army” booklets and earned over $200.00 profit towards the purchase.
•
On September 8, 2001, the Camalier Camp dedicated a headstone provided
by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to Captain Camalier. This mainly
came about through the efforts of Compatriot Couch. Even though the headstone
took about a year to receive, the word “Signal” was misspelled
as “Signol”. Compatriot Delozier has made an attempt to get
a replacement headstone from the VA since October 2001, thus far, without
success.
•
In January 2003 when Compatriot Stober became treasurer, he single-handedly
held the Camalier Camp’s second fund-raiser. He was able to acquire
a replica Confederate Cavalry Officer’s Sword at a wholesale price
and sold raffle tickets. He mailed out over 600 advertisements and sold
enough tickets for the camp to receive over $1,000 profit. This literally
doubled the camp treasury. The drawing was held during the May 15 camp
meeting and the winner was Maryland Division Adjutant John P. Zebelean,
III.
•
During the July 2003 meeting, Compatriot Doug Delozier made a
motion that the camp to create a “Friends of the Camp” within
the Camalier Camp. It was voted and agreed that the “Friends” yearly
dues would be $7.00 and they could vote on only camp matters
(activities), and
not on national issues such as amendments. Denise Delozier became
the first “Friend” the
next month. .
COMMANDERS:
The following is a list of camp commanders and the year(s) they
serviced in that position:
•
Robert Lee Haskins (1979 – 1980)
Also was the first Maryland Division Commander (1981 – 1982)
•
David Hammett, Jr. (1981 – 1983)
Also was the third Maryland Division Commander (1986 – 1988)
•
Christopher M. Wilson (1983 – 1985)
•
Clinton B. Duke, Sr. (1985 – 1991)
•
James Bentley (J.B.) Couch (January 1991 – January 1995)
•
Joseph Leonard (Lennie) Thompson, Jr. (January 1995 – January 1999)
•
John B. Stober, Jr. (January 1999 – January 2001)
•
Robin East (January 2001 – May 2001)
•
James Bentley (J.B.) Couch (May 2001 – January 2003)
•
Frank A. Willis (January 2003 – May 2004)
•
Robert (Rob) L. Long (May 2004 – Present)
ANNUAL
STATUS REPORTS:
As per annual reports, the following is a count of members of the
Camalier Camp since conception:
1979 – 20
members
1980 – 29
1981 – 28
1982 – 25
1983 – 25
1984 – 23
1985 – 24
1986 – 25
1987 – 26
|
1988 – 26
1989 – 22
1990 – 19
1991 – 23
1992 – 21
1993 – 20
1994 – 21
1995 – 22
1996 – 23
|
1997 – 32
1998 – No
Report in File
1999 – 24
2000 – 24
2001 – 28
2002 – 26
2003 – 29
2004 - 28 |
STATE DIVISION CONVENTIONS:
•
The Camalier Camp hosted its first Maryland Division Convention on April 14,
1984 at the St. Mary’s College Campus in St. Mary’s
City. Not much information about this convention is in the camp
files.
•
The camp hosted its second Division Convention on April 28, 1990 at the Christ
Church Fellowship Hall in Chaptico. This convention was dedicated to the late
Past Division Commander and Commander of the General John Henry Winder Camp #1416
Martin “Mike” Morris and also to the following Camalier
Camp members who had passed away:
o Robert Lee Haskins, Past Division & 1st Camp Cmdr, and
charter member
o William Thomas Bailey who was a REAL SON
o Thurston H. Baxter, Colonel, USAF, (Retired) and charter
member and Recipient of the UDC Cross of Military Service
o Edwin W. Beitzell, charter member & author, Point Lookout Prison
Camp
o Blair Evans
o Frederick L. McCoy, charter member
After the 1990 convention, the members moved to Deep Falls, the
home of Colonel Richard Thomas “Zarvona” for the dedication of a grave marker, which
before Colonel Thomas was laid in an unmarked grave. The “Zarvona” MOSB
Chapter sponsored this dedication.
•
The Camp hosted its third Division Convention on April 13, 1996. It was held
at the Olde Breton Inn in Leonardtown. It was dedicated to the memory of Compatriot
James “Sam” Clark who was a member of both the Bowling SCV Camp and
the “Zarvona” MOSB Chapter. Approximately 60 people
were in attendance. The Convention Committee was made up of the
following camp members: Commander
Lennie Thompson, Jr., Adjutant David Braziel, and Chaplain John
Stober, Jr.
CAMP NEWSLETTER:
The newsletter of the Camalier Camp is called “The Camalier
Dispatch”.
Its first issue was March 1991 and was created and edited by
J.B. Couch. He performed the task of editor for almost 10 years. During
this entire period,
he copied
and paid for postage out of his own pockets. The Camalier Camp
owes a great debt of gratitude to Compatriot Couch for doing this.
CAMP INCORPORATION:
The Camalier Camp became incorporated on May 8, 1995 by the advisement
of Compatriot Stober. It was incorporated with six “directors”:
• Commander Joseph (Lennie) Thompson, Jr.
• Lt Commander Robin East
• Adjutant David R. Braziel
• Treasurer and Past Commander Christopher Wilson
• Chaplain John B. Stober, Jr.
• Past Commander J.B. Couch
MEETINGS:
The Camalier Camp meets every third Thursday of each month, except for January
and December. In January, the camp holds a luncheon to celebrate
both General’s
Lee and Jackson’s birthday and the anniversary month of our camp’s
charter. The camp meets at 7:00pm at the Garvey Senior Center
in Leonardtown, Maryland.
HASKINS/CLAGGETT AWARDS:
The Maryland Division created the Haskins/Claggett Award in 1988
for the most outstanding division member. It was named after
Robert L.
Haskins and Robert
E. Claggett. Only one award is allowed to be given annually and
is considered the highest honor that can be bestowed upon a Maryland
SCV member by
the
Maryland Division. The following is a list of recipients of this
most prestigious award:
•
1988 – Garth Bowling, Jr. (Charter member of the Bowling Camp)
•
1989 – Michael K. Williams (Colonel William Norris Camp #1398)
(Past Maryland MOSB Society Commander)
•
1990 – Martin “Mike” Morris (Winder Camp)
•
1991 – James “Sam” Clark (Bowling Camp)
•
1992 – David Hammett, Jr. (Charter member of the Camalier Camp)
•
1993 – Michael Rybikowsky (Bowling Camp)
•
1994 – Patrick J. “Rick” Griffin, III (Norris Camp & later
became Cmdr-In-Chief of the SCV.
•
1995 – James Bentley (J.B.) Couch (Camalier Camp)
•
1996 – Harold Ford (Norris Camp)
•
1997 – Joe Wright (Bowling Camp)
•
1998 – Jim Kuropka (Colonel Harry W. Gilmor Camp #1388)
•
1999 – G. Elliott Cummings (Gilmor Camp, Past Div Cmdr & MD
MOSB Cmdr)
•
2000 – John Sawyer (Maryland Line Camp #1741)
•
2001 – No Recipient
•
2002 – Charles Goolsby (Jeff Davis Camp #305) (Past Division Commander)
•
2003 – No Recipient
•
2004 – Donald E. Beck (Norris Camp)
Data
for camp history was compiled by Past Commander
and Past Adjutant John
B. Stober, Jr.
Return to Maryland
Division Home Page
Copyright © 1999
Sons of Confederate Veterans, Vincent Camalier Camp # 1359
Comments or Corrections, contact: RebMaster
|