Greetings to all. First I would like to express my appreciation to the members of the new newsletter committee for taking over "The Guardian" and instituting all the needed changes. Thanks Tom, Jerry and Steph. I hope each of you who receive this will find the changes helpful and appealing. "The Guardian" will now be a monthly newsletter that can be accessed either electronicly by e-mail or received through your regular mail service in hard copy form. Each of you will be contacted personally for your preference. It is also our wish that "The Guardian" be more accessable for member input in the form of letters, stories, family histories or articles of Confederate and Southern Heritage. Folks this is your newsletter just as this is your Camp so please get involved in it. Got a story? Send it in. Got a concern? Voice it. Got pictures of an event or just family that you would like to share? Please submit them. Lets make this a great newsletter and something that we can all be proud of. Send it in to: stephanie@watkins-farm.com

     Now for the Column: This month I would like to focus on our Camp membership. First, congratulations men we now as of this writing have 54 members and growing. Welcome to the new men and thanks for choosing us as your new home.
     A few days ago, as I was looking over some membership applications, I found myself pondering what it is that makes each of us join an organization such as the Sons of Confederate Veterans. In thinking about the answer to this question I realized there are just as many reasons as there are members. I believe that some join to be a part of an organization that promotes unity among Confederate descendants. Some join to honor the memory and good name of our Confederate ancestors and their brothers-in-arms. Some join to try to make a difference in the fight to defend our heritage and way of life. Some join to be able to get involved in the flag fight and challenge the liberal state political machine. Some join just to get the SCV certificate with their Confederate ancestors name on it and very little else, never attending meetings or taking part in Camp activities. Then there are those exceptional fellows who join to fulfill the oath we swear-in under that says in part: "I pledge myself to loyally support the activities of the Camp and the Sons of Confederate Veterans, and its Charge, whose purpose it is to cultivate, perpetuate and sanctify the memory of the Confederacy." These folks are the ones who take an active and "hands on" approach to the Cause.
      No matter what it is that has brought us all together in this Camp, it is most important that we all pull together and pool our talents, and love for our heritage, and make this Camp all that it possibly can be. We each should feel that we must uphold our oath of allegience to this Camp and provide a service to it. It is our duty as Confederate descendants to honor the good name of all those who served the Confederacy and it is up to us to defend those who are no longer here to defend themselves. This Camp is not only a weapon of defense (and offense) but also a tool for education. It should also be a celebration of the lives, memory and sacrifices of those heroes who gave so much of themselves in defense of Old Dixie some 140 years ago. Every day that you are actively taking part in a Camp activity is one more day that your Confederate ancestor is reborn through you to fight again. Folks we, as Confederate descendants, have something that not everyone has and many are jealous of us for that reason. That we all share Confederate blood makes us different and should bond us together not only as a Camp but also as a family. We must band together and further the Cause of this Camp, and the Charge given to us as Confederate descendants. We must "vindicate the Cause" for which they fought, "defend the Confederate soldiers good name", guard "his history", emulate "his virtues", perpetuate the "principles which he loved...and those ideals which made him glorious". Gentlemen no body is going to do the job for us and if we don't each step up and get active those that hate all that we hold dear will prevail. No matter what brought each of us to this organization, we are all in it together, and together we can make a difference.
     Men it is a pleasure to serve as your Commander and I look forward to the future of this Camp and the SCV. I truly believe that as a whole this Camp can, and will, fulfill our utmost potential and I look forward to working with each one of you. God save the South. DEO VINDICE (God will vindicate).
                              Confederately,
                         Sam Lyons, Commander