Belton Chapter No.1843 90th Anniversary Tea

  

Emmala Reed Miller Chapter No.2694 with SC Division President Mary Armstrong

Belton Chapter No.1843 with SC Division President Mary Armstrong 

SC Piedmont District Meeting Seneca, SC

Teresa Reed, Mendy Fuller, and Janice Waters at the  SC Piedmont District Meeting Seneca, SC

Before there was Memorial Day, there was Decoration Day. It was a day set aside for the families of Confederate dead to remember their fallen heroes. In Anderson, Lenora Hubbard was usually in charge of the celebration. Small Confederate flags were placed at the graves by Anderson's school children.

At the time, several Union soldiers were buried in Old Silver Brook Cemetery, and it was common for the school children to place U.S. flags on their graves. On April 19, 1893, a letter was written by Henry B. Cleaves, Governor of Maine (shown in photo), to the citizens of Anderson. Governor Cleaves was impressed with the way Anderson honored the Union dead as well as the Confederate. His letter stated in full:

"I have read with a great deal of interest and pleasure your esteemed letter to Maj. A.Q. Hill, of Calais, and beg to express to you my sincere appreciation of the attention shown by you for the graves of the Federal Soldiers buried at Anderson."

By Under the Kudzu

In the Arms of Angels

The Emmala Reed Miller United Daughters of the Confederacy® in Anderson, SC met for their first Charleston "Field trip and Historical Retreat" from Friday April 4th until Sunday April 6, 2014 along with the Lee Reed Miller Children of the Confederacy® and the Belton Chapter. We had the distinct pleasure of not only visiting the magnificent "Magnolia Cemetery" but met with the author of a well photographed and detailed "photo essay" of the cemetery. His hard cover book entitled In the Arms of Angels, Magnolia Cemetery Charleston’s Treasure of History, Mystery, and Artistry is a collection of beautiful photographs with well documented information regarding the iconic meanings on the headstones. We met with the author, Patrick Harwood, for a private book signing and a personal discussion about the symbolisms of the headstones in the cemetery. We found that cemeteries can be emotional, stimulating, and educational on many levels to family members as well as the casual passing viewer. As noted by Patrick in his book and in his discussion with us, a visitor can feel as if they are in an art gallery that almost speaks to you. There are so many varied and creative designs and details in the headstones, monuments, sculptures and statuaries that a simple walk through should be discouraged without your camera at the ready. His book has great detail about this cemetery as well as the souls that rest within. A trip to the cemetery can teach so much if you are educated as to what you are viewing and the symbolism included with the history that lies before your eyes. If you can't get to a cemetery or it's raining on the day you could go, pick up a copy of this wonderful book, relax and learn from your easy chair. You can contact Patrick Harwood at birdseyeviewspublications@gmail.com if you are interested in obtaining a book.

Our ladies with Patrick Hardwood, author of In the Arms of Angels Mendy Fuller, Teresa Welborn, Janice Waters, Ashlyn Fuller, Teresa Reed, and Dar Dowdy.