The Memorial Service at the Virginia Monument on Seminary Ridge
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The Private John Wesley Culp Memorial Camp 1961 of Gettysburg and the Lee's Keystone Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, hosted the 3nd Annual Confederate Memorial Day Service at the Virginia Monument on the Gettysburg Battlefield at Seminary Ridge on May 5, 2007. The location for the Virginia Monument, overlooking the fields of Pickett's Charge, was selected because it was here that General Lee witnessed the charge.¹

The participants in the service included honor guards of the Private John Wesley Culp Memorial Camp 1961 and the Maryland Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans, and the 2nd South Carolina reenactment group, all in confederate uniforms. Supporting participates included the Division Commander, James S. Palimisano; the Division Chaplain and Past Division Commander, Michael Duminiak; the Commander of the Josiah Gorgas Camp 2059, Cameron Pickens; and SCV member Jeff Lynn (these compatriots also represent Company C, 31st Virginia Infantry).  The troops were placed under the leadership of 2nd Lt. Commander, Andrew Dankmeyer, Camp 1961.

The ceremony began at 11:00 AM with a march below Seminary Ridge on the ground where Pickett's Charge¹ took place.

The March below Seminary Ridge
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Once the troops were in place below the memorial, the Master of Ceremonies, Division Adjutant and Culp Camp Commander Ben E. Lewis, Sr., gave the opening remarks.

Master of Ceremonies, Ben E. Lewis
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After the participants and visitors were led in the Pledge of Allegiance, and the Salute to the Confederate Flag, the Invocation was given by Division Chaplain Duminiak.  Afterward, Division Commander James Palmisano gave the welcoming remarks.

Division Commander, James Palminsano
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Following the remarks by Commander Palmisano, the Color/Honor Guard presented arms during the laying of wreaths below the memorial.  The Lee's Keystone Division wreath was presented by Sharon Palmisano, wife of Division Commander Jim Palmisano. The J.E.B. Stuart Camp 1506 wreath was presented by Diane Ellenburg, wife of Division Lt Commander and Stuart Camp 2Lt Commander, Dan Ellenburg. The Private John Wesley Culp Memorial Camp 1961 wreath was presented by Suzanne Lewis, wife of Division Adjutant and Culp Camp Commander, Ben Lewis, Sr.. The Captain Sally Tompkins Chapter 2, Order of the Confederate Rose wreath was presented by the Chapter President Barbara Rowe. And Elliot Cummings presented a wreath on behalf of his camp. 1st Lt. Commander Thomas Burkhardt Jr.of the Culp Camp served as escort.

Lt. Cdr Burkhardt escorting Sharon Palmisano
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After the wreath presentations, the first guest speaker was Culp Camp Associate Member John Shaw.  He read a letter by a Confederate Soldier relating his feelings on the war.

Culp Camp Associate Member John Shaw
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It was an honor to have as our featured speaker, Michael Givens, the Commander of the Army of Northern Virginia. He traveled from his home in Beaufort, South Carolina to Gettysburg with his son, Chandler, to attend the event (Chandler has the honor of being Cadet member number one).

Army of Northern Virginia Commander Michael Givens
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Following Commander Givens' speech, Commander Lewis gave the closing remarks, followed by the closing Benediction by Division Chaplain Duminiak.

The spectators included John C. Care, Commander of the East Brigade and the J.E.B. Stuart Camp 1506, Commander Jim St. Clair of the Brig. Gen. Johnson Kelly Duncan Camp 2028, other members and family of Lee's Keystone Division Camps, representatives of SCV Camps from North and South Carolina, and tourists to the battlefield. Thanks to Commander St. Clair for the fine photos he contributed for this web page.

Following the ceremony, refreshments were served to SCV members and family at a battlefield park picnic area near Emmitsburg Pike and Confederate Avenue.  

Each year this event grows a little. Next year the event will be on the second weekend of the month of May.

Footnote: "Even in defeat, Lee was magnanimous. Rising to the greatness that has symbolized him throughout history, the general placed full blame for the failure squarely on himself. To a distraught General Pickett, Lee spoke words of comfort: "Come, General Pickett, this has been my fight, and upon my shoulders rests the blame. The men and officers of your command have written the name of Virginia as high today as it has ever been written before." It is no wonder that the Confederate soldiers who served under Lee gave him their undying loyalty and many historians feel that this day at Gettysburg, as tragic as it was, may have been his finest hour." ¹

[¹National Park Service, Gettysburg National Military Park, The Field of Pickett's Charge ]