Sons of Confederate Veterans
A Heritage of Honor

2nd South Carolina Regiment Pickens Camp 71
South Carolina Division

March 23, 1998

Fellow Compatriots:

Tomorrow (Tuesday) our attorneys are to meet with Mayor Kennemer and the city attorney. We also wish Michael Chastain of the Civitans to attend. I left messages at his work place and home.

Mayor Kennemer is in his office until 11 a.m. Call anytime before eleven and ask to speak with the mayor. If you have ever spent a dime in Pickens, tell the mayor and tell him what you think about a city that would allow this to happen. Be nice, he is old, not in the best of health but a good man. He and the council were unaware of the act of savagery perpetrated by Michael Chastain and the Civitans. He has spoken with the Police Chief who told him that we are nice folks who have never given any trouble.

Sunday afternoon Senator Larry Martin spoke with the Mayor on our behalf. Larry wishes this matter settled in our favor.

Hopefully his influence will be of help.

Present plans are to file a Federal lawsuit the first of next week. Once this is filed we can ask the court for an injunction to

prevent our exclusion this year. Since time is short the court would probably agree on this and the suit could then proceed as time requires.

We are not racist and this is not an issue about race. It is involves our right to free speech. We have worked diligently to

steer the public perception in this direction and the Lord has blessed us with a good result thus far.

The press is being very fair and in some cases very favorable to us. They see our position as a group whose civil rights (freedom of speech) is threatened. We are called, "Sons of Confederate Veterans" or a "heritage group". The members of the press (all) are courteous, fair and objective. We DO NOT WANT anyone to change this view.

We wish this matter to be settled without extended litigation and hope this will soon happen. However we are planning for a long war and this may happen instead. We will need money and moral support. The moral support will include writing letters and making phone calls to the mayor and city council members and perhaps any business you may have dealt with in Pickens. In addition you can write letters to the Easley Progress and the Pickens Sentinel.

If you send a fax be sure and sign the letter and give a phone number where you can be reached during the day. They will confirm your writing the letter before publication.

We ask you to attend the Pickens Azalea Festival Saturday, April 18. Wear Confederate memorabilia, flags, uniforms, etc. Tee shirts are fine if they are in good taste. We definitely DO NOT WANT any racial overtones so the dress must be Confederate and not racial. If the matter is resolved in our favor this will be a victory celebration. Otherwise is will be a protest in behalf of our camp and free speech. This is important.

Any donations from individuals or SCV camps will be accepted to help with legal bills. Please send all donations to:

All donations will be acknowledged with a receipt and all donations will be used only for legal defense in this case. You have my word on this. Be sure to designate your donation to the Legal Fund.

Division Commander, Chris Sullivan, has graciously offered Division support. We want the division war chest to be used only as a last resort. This is why we request donations only from individuals or camps. Ammunition is needed at the battle front (us) but we need to keep the depot (division) full.

I apologize for incorrectly listing my email address. However any mail sent to the address, caudell@easley.net will be delivered to me because Easley Net has now listed this also as my address. My regular email address is: lcaudell@easley.net

For all those gray clad warriors who gave life, limb and fortune I make this appeal to you. They watch from a bastion where no harm can come to them but we remain here and must still battle the foe. Will you help us?

Le Roy Caudell, Commander

2nd SC Regiment Pickens Camp 71