AMERICUS — The Alexander H Stephens Camp 78, Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) hosted the Annual Confederate Memorial service on April 28 at the Confederate plot at Oak Grove Cemetery.

Lt. Commander James Gaston, opened the service with prayer and read the poem “The Memorial.” Camp Commander John Carroll welcomed all those in attendance and reminded them that Memorial Day originated in Georgia in 1865, immediately after the Civil War, as a way to remember the sacrifices of the veterans of Georgia who served to defend their nation, state and homes.

Michah Whitaker and Tifton Pace, both seniors at Southland Academy, were introduced as the first- and second-place winners of this year’s SCV Essay Contest. Whitaker, who plans to attend Georgia Southwestern State University, won a $1,000 college scholarship and Pace, who plans to attend the University of Georgia (UGA), won a $500 college scholarship. Both students read their essays on The Leadership and Character of Robert E Lee. The annual essay college scholarship program is available to all area high school seniors who are encouraged to participate.

The speaker for the occasion was Curt Collier from Athens. Collier is a 1991 graduate of UGA with a bachelor of arts degree in business. He has worked as a sales consultant, for Henry Schein Inc., a medical supply company, since 2001. He is a life member of the SCV and was appointed to the Georgia Civil War Commission in 2011, by Governor Nathan Deal. Collier has familyconnections to Sumter and Macon counties that trace back generations with the Stubbs and Wicker families. One of his great-great-grandfathers was Sgt. Francis Marion Collier. who diedwhile serving as  a Confederate guard at Camp Sumter (Andersonville). Sgt. Collier's remains are buried in the Confederate plot at Oak Grove among 128 other Confederate soldiers who died at Andersonville or in local hospitals located in Americus during the Civil War.

The service concluded with the singing of Dixie as the women and children placed flowers on the soldiers’ graves. A memorial wreath was placed on the graves by the SCV and the Ladies Order of Confederate Rose Chapter 6. The SCV Honor Guard provided a military rifle salute and Taps was performed by a bugler.

The Camp also conducted a memorial serivce in Ellaville earlier the same day. Nancy Young was presented a certificate of appreciation by the SCV for the tireless work she performs in preservation of local history.

For more information on Confederate Memorial Day and the SCVm visit www.SCV.org or www.ahstephenscamp78.org