VOLUME XII ISSUE 1 2019

ROUGH The Sons of Confederate Veterans – Camp 265

AND

THE
READYS RANKIN DISPATCH
RANKIN

CAMP
265
Home of the Rankin Rough & Ready’s – Brandon, Mississippi

Commander’s Report
I hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and a Happy
New Year! I have been traveling around the state inviting SCV
members and their families to the reunion next year. There is no
way I can visit all the camps on my own. So, if you would, please
volunteer to visit one or more. Several of you already have and
thank you! We will have a Reunion Committee Meeting on
January 19th at Penn’s in Brandon at 3:00pm. Everyone is invited!

This month we will have Ron Kennedy speaking. He is an author

and a historian. His presentation should be great! We have our
Installation of Officers this month, Relic Show and Reunion
updates, a great new food menu, and much more. So, come early,
bring someone with you, and as sure as we are going to have the
best Relic Show and the largest, most well attended Reunion in
years in 2019, I’ll probably see you on January 5th, 2019 at the
Bass Pro Shop in Pearl, MS. The OCR meeting starts at 5:00pm,
the buffet is from 6:00 – 6:30pm, and the SCV meeting starts at
7:00pm. – Tim Cupit
It has become tradition with
Meeting Agenda for January 5th: our annual Camp 265
Christmas meetings that the
Agenda For January 5th, 2019 Meeting
- Open with prayer at 7pm sharp Christmas Story is read by
- Pledge of Allegiance to the US flag and salutes led by 2nd Lt. Camp 265 Parliamentarian,
Commander Tom Lilly Mr. Ralph Smitherman. This
- Trivia by Ralph Smitherman year was no exception! Mr.
- Guest Speaker–Author & Historian Ron Kennedy/Topic: Southern
Victory Campaign Smitherman is visually
-Q&A impaired and reads from a
large book written in Braille.
Unfinished Business It is a time to slow down and
- Adopt minutes from Nov. 3rd, Motion, 2nd, Discussion, Vote.
- Did everyone sign in & get a door prize ticket? reflect on the things that are
- www.scv265.com and Facebook stats from Chris Merck important in our lives. Thank
- 1st Thursday Coin Club Meeting at the Brandon Library at 6:30pm you Mr. Ralph for bringing
hosted by Ed Lofton & draw for first door prize
- OCR Report by Brandi Gray
this beautiful story to us each
- Review 2019 MS Division SCV Reunion. We need members of the year!
camp to attend this reunion!!!
- Camp polo shirts– Lynn Gaskin
- Is there any other unfinished business?

New Business
- New Members
- We need a head count for the buffet in February Keep up with what’s happening in and around
- Swearing in of Officers Camp 265 by checking out the official
- Door Prizes Rankin Rough & Ready’s Facebook page!
- Open Floor http://www.facebook.com/scv265
- Close the meeting with prayer at approx. 8:40pm
- Pass the hat

Commander’s Quote:
“If it’s important to you, you’ll find a way.
If not- you’ll find an excuse.”
 CHAPLAIN’S REPORT
by Tom Fortenberry
A Light Unto the World
I would have to gesture that most people today would be able to
recall the name of Thomas Edison as the inventor of the first
electric light bulb. And yet most would not know that it was
Edison who created the first strand of Christmas lights in 1880.
The year 1880 was also the year in which the United States
Congress officially set the date and uniformed celebration of
Christmas across the nation.
Not to be outdone in 1882 Mr. Edward Johnson, Edison’s lab
assistant strung some 80 red, white, and blue lights around a
Christmas tree outside their lab. Reports from people passing the
lighted tree remarked it was strange and frightened the horses as
they passed. Thus the season of joy increased in popularity as
more and more Christmas lights filled the homes and streets of
towns and cities.
The War of Aggression, or Civil War some twenty years prior had
torn the nation apart and with it individuals both soldiers and
citizens alike were separated from love ones and families. The
cold winter season often brought with it an atmosphere of
depression and separation. Soldiers on both sides celebrate
together on Christmas and the following days could be seen
engaged again in mortal combat. Christmas during the War was
for most the hope of returning home before the next winter.
After the end of the war in 1865 the celebration of Christmas
would not see a nation wide celebration until 1880 and with it the
first light bulb and two years later the stringing up of electrical
light by Mr. Edward Johnson.
Today the celebration of Christmas is truly a joy of celebration
not only of the birth of our Savior but even more a celebration of
His life. May this prayer be a part of your prayer that as we join
together in this season, may we invite Him to be more in our lives
and a true light unto our paths.
May God Bless each of you this season.
– Thomas Fortenberry, Chaplain Camp 265
ADJUTANT’S REPORT
by Charles Lewis
"No day should be lived unless it was begun with a prayer of
thankfulness and an intercession for guidance." –Robert E. Lee
Forty one people signed in at the Dec. meeting.
With Commander Cupit away in Franklin TN recruiting vendors
for the 2019 relic show, 1st Lt. James Cook called the meeting to
order. Butch Kuriger made a motion the minutes from the Nov.
meeting be excepted. Tom Lily second the motion, and with no
discussion the motion was approved.
Robbie Lewis gave an update on the VA Christmas Shoppe,
encouraging everyone to come participate in these two activities.
Gift cards were given to Cheyenne Bradley, Emma Weeks, and
Ryan Stanley. These children are the feature of both organizations,
so we wanted to let them know how important they are.
Mr. Robert Myers donated several books for a silent action. He
specified he wanted the money to go to the OCR, to be used on an
upcoming project.
New camp officers will be sworn in at the Jan. meeting.
Remember the Feb. meeting will be held at Penn's in Brandon.
We were blessed by Mr. Ralph Smitherman reading the Christmas
Story from his Braille Bible. Lori McDade entertained us with
several Christmas songs. Besides a beautiful voice she also played
the ukulele. Yes, Christmas songs sounds great accompanied by a
ukulele.
On Nov. 24th camp members Brayden Gray, Thomas Ramsey, and
Jonas Patrick participated in a reenactment at Landrum's
Homestead in Laurel, MS. These young men represent our camp
and we are lucky to have them.
On Dec. 8th and 15th, along with the OCR ladies, we attended the
VA Christmas Shoppes at the VA hospital and state nursing home.
This is our third year and what a joy it is to be a part of it. The
veterans greatly enjoy shopping for themselves and their families
all free of charge, and we love helping them select gifts provided
the SCV and OCR members and other organizations.
Condolences to camp member Jonas Patrick on the loss of his
father and camp member Steve Lampkin and his family on the loss
of his father in-law. Our thoughts and prayers are with you during
this time.
*Remember it is never to late to be reinstated as a member. If you
know someone who wishes to be reinstated or wants to become a
new member have them contact me.
Are you getting prepared for the 2019 reunion and relic show? As
we are hosting, everyone's support and help is a must.
Wishing all a happy and blessed New Year
–Charles Lewis, Adjutant
 For more information on INITIATIVE 62
Please visit:
FlagVote.com

For more information about SCV Camp 265,

the Rankin Rough & Ready’s, visit us online at:

ROUGH
AND
http://www.scv265.com
READYS
RANKIN

CAMP
Singer Lori McDade entertained us with Christmas Songs for the December 265

meeting.
Camp Commander Tim Cupit (left) along with Lynn Gaskin and Jim Tyrney Camp 265 3rd Lt. Chris Merck visited Camp 1740 - The Lowry Rifles in Pearl, MS.
traveled to the Franklin, TN Civil War Relic Show on December 2, 2018.

Mary Ann Forrest Chapter

of the Order of Confederate Rose
December was a great month for us with the VA Christmas
Shoppe and the VA Nursing Home Shoppe. We had a great
SCV and OCR turnout at both events, and it makes the
residents so very happy. We don’t ever get tired of doing for
others, especially around the Holidays. We also had
members participate in the Wreaths Across America Event.
We appreciate everyone who takes the time to go out and
find other community projects to do while representing the
OCR. I hope you all have a Happy New Year and we will
see y’all on January 5th at Bass Pro.

–Brandi

For more information on the Mary Ann Forrest Chapter of

the Order of Confederate Rose, or to become a member,
please visit them online at www.maryannforrestocr.com

You can also visit them on Facebook at:

www.facebook.com/maryannforrest23/

The MAFOCR welcomes new member Mrs. Darla Flynn Myers!

 2 0 1 9 C IV I L W A R R E L I C S H O W
B R A N D O N C I TY H A L L
S A T . J U N E 1 5 TH 9 AM - 5 PM
S U N . J U N E 1 6 TH 9AM - 4 PM
F O R I N F O C A L L T I M C U P IT 7 6 9 - 2 3 4 - 2 9 6 6

2019 Civil War Relic Show Update

Tim Cupit, along with Lynn Gaskin and Jim Tyrney traveled to Franklin, TN on December 1st and 2nd to solicit
vendors for our show. We made many good contacts and found many potential vendors. The trip was well worth
it! We have finished designing one of our ads for the newspapers, and used that to advertise our show in a Civil
War Collector & Dealer Directory that will be distributed all over the country. We are still working on our flier
design. We have banners shipped out to be reprinted for the 2019 show, and we need a few volunteers to change
the dates on the yard signs (these are done by hand).

We sent all camp members, potential vendors, & past vendors a Christmas card that included a vendor registration
form. Totaling over 600. Yes, that was a large task! The room has been secured, and tables have been reserved! A
musician has committed to come play at our show on Saturday & Sunday to create a better atmosphere. We have
an exhibit secured that will display handmade models of some of the ships used during the Civil War. This exhibit
will add depth to our show and provide the public with a unique look into the history of naval warfare.

WE NEED TO SELL ADS!!! We still need help raising money by selling ads in our newsletter or soliciting
donations. Any help with this endeavor would be greatly appreciated by all of us at Camp 265. Remember, it costs
about $20,000 to put on our Relic Show! We have sponsor sheets to use when selling ads with photos of activities
our camp has done in the community, an explanation of how their donation will be used, and information for them
regarding a tax write off.

Remember: if you ask, you may be told no, but if you never ask- you’ll never be told yes!

Please make plans to attend the 2019 Civil War Relic Show and help us make it a success!

2019 Mississippi SCV Division Reunion Update

The Bibles for the goodie bags are in, as well as the Medals and reunion ribbons. The goodie bags have been
secured, however the flag for the reunion is incomplete. Music for Friday & Saturday nights has been confirmed.

I need help visiting other camps and handing out invitations! Invitations are available to anyone who wants to visit
other camps and hand them out (I can also email the invitations to you). I have visited and handed out invitations
at the 2018 Reunion in Biloxi, Summit, Meridian, Bruce, Columbia, Bay St. Louis, Florence, the October
Executive Council Meeting, the Mechanized Cavalry Annual Meeting in Louisville, Natchez, the 2nd Meridian
Camp, Oxford, Corinth, and the 5th Brigade Christmas party in Hattiesburg. Again - I need help visiting other
camps!

Our next Reunion Committee Meeting is on January 19, 2019 at Penn's in Brandon at 3pm. This meeting is open
to everyone: SCV, OCR, & family members.
MAFOCR Ladies participating in a living history at the McGehee Beall House in Members from both Camp 265 and MAFOCR attended the VA Christmas Shoppe at
Liberty, MS on Saturday December 1, 2018. G.V. “Sonny” Montgomery Hospital in Jackson, MS.

Members from both Camp 265 and MAFOCR also attended the VA Christmas
Shoppe at the State Veteran’s Home in Jackson, MS.

MAFOCR Ladies bringing gifts for an adopted angel from the Salvation Army
Christmas Tree!

Camp 265 member Willard Chatham and wife Maureen with Gov. Phil Bryant and MAFOCR Chapter member Marty Walden placed wreaths on graves at the MS
First Lady Deborah in the Governor’s mansion in Jackson, MS. Veteran’s Memorial Cemetery in Newton, MS for Wreaths Across America!
PLEASE SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS - THEY SUPPORT US!
 The Sons of Confederate Veterans
Camp #265

THE RANKIN DISPATCH NON-PROFIT ORG.

U.S. POSTAGE PAID
317 Lake Heather Road BRANDON, MS
Brandon, MS 39047 PERMIT NO. 265

Our next meeting is January 5th

at Bass Pro Shop in Brandon at 7:00pm.
Come early!