Ohio Division News
Saturday, January 16th, 2010
The 107th Annual Ohio Division Convention opened with an Historical Evening on Friday, September 25th at the Russell-Cooper House in Mt. Vernon Ohio. Mrs. Sandy McCann, President of Dixie #1546, whose chapter hosted the convention, brought greetings and welcomed all to enjoy a delicious dinner. She introduced an especially honored guest, President General, Jane Durden, who was enjoying her first trip to Ohio.
Following dinner, Division President Catherine Masarin and Division Military Service Awards Chairman, Michele Jensen conducted the Ceremony of Bestowal of Crosses of Military Service. The WWI Cross was posthumously awarded to Thurman Stanton Waller, PFC. – United States Army and accepted on his behalf by his granddaughter, Mrs. Dolores E. Ronzi. The WWII Cross was awarded posthumously to Marvyn Ray Jones Jr., Pfc. – United States Army, and accepted by his widow, Mrs. Bertie Jones.
Following the ceremonies, guests enjoyed a presentation by guest Speakers, Capt. M. Ray Jones, III, Quartermaster in Chief SCV and Col. W. Danny. Honnoll, Past Arkansas Division Commander SCV. Their topic, “The Life and times of Gen. Patrick R. Cleburne” incorporated several ties to Ohio and was enjoyed by all.
The business meeting was conducted on Saturday morning in the main dining room at the Russell-Cooper House. Following lunch, members and guests traveled a few blocks to Mt. Vernon’s Moundview Cemetery to participate in a Memorial Service at the gravesite of Daniel Decatur Emmett, composer of “Dixie’s Land.” Mr. Jim Gibson, Director of the Knox County Historical Society, provided the gathering with an enticing sampling into Mr. Emmett’s life and history . He also brought with him, the unusually knotted walking stick Dan Emmett often carried. Following the wreath-laying ceremony, the group sang a rousing chorus of “Dixie” and Cathy Masarin, played an impromptu version of “Dixie” on her harmonica.
Big news for Ohio Division in 2009 was the creation of the first-ever Ohio Division Pin! Also created and approved was a Commemorative 100 year Anniversary pin (1902-2002). Approval at the General level was received during convention in Biloxi and thanks to the efforts of Cindy Sherman and Pamela Wright, the pins are now available from the Ohio Division.
Another highlight of the year was for the members and guests who traveled to Orlando in July for the CofC General Convention. It was bittersweet to watch our Miss Becca Widowski, past President CofC cross to the alumni side, however we were proud to see her brother elected to VP General of the CofC. We are very proud of our CofC kids.
Each year the Ohio Division ladies, in conjunction with Sons of Confederate Veteran camps hold annual memorial services at the sites of Ohio’s two Confederate Prisoner of War Cemeteries. On May 31, 2010, at 2:00 PM, the UDC will join the Roswell S. Ripley SCV camp at it holds its annual memorial service at the Camp Chase Cemetery in Columbus Ohio – final resting place of 2200 Confederate dead.
This year, the “Johnson Island Committee” along with the LaSalle Corbell Pickett Chapter #2070 have plans to hold TWO separate but special memorial services at the Johnson’s Island POW Cemetery in Sandusky, Ohio. The first service will be held April 24th in conjunction with Confederate Memorial Day. The second however, is special in that its purpose it to commemorate and rededicate the 100th anniversary of the beautiful monument within the cemetery gates. It was sculptured by Confederate Veteran, Sir Moses Ezekial who donated it to the Robert Patton Chapter UDC, owners the Confederate Cemetery in 1910. The monument is titled “The Lookout” and it has been guardian of the graves of more than 300 Confederate POW’s ever since. Anyone wishing to visit this hallowed Confederate ground, should consider coming to Johnson’s Island, Sandusky, Ohio on June 12, 2010 for the special 100th anniversary and rededication ceremonies.