PROCLAMATION
“To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we submit the vindication of
the Cause for which we fought; to your strength will be given the defense of the
Confederate soldier’s good name, the guardianship of his history, the
emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles he loved and
which made him glorious and which you also cherish.
Remember, it is your duty to see that the true history of the South is
presented to future generations.”
Commander General, United Confederate Veterans
New Orleans, Louisiana, 1906
We,
the Rowan Rifles Camp #405, Sons of Confederate Veterans, do hereby proclaim
that the Charge given to us by Gen. Stephen D. Lee is the sole purpose of the
Sons of Confederate Veterans. We
hereby acknowledge the English language as it is and reject any perversion of
it. We understand to
“vindicate” means to set free from allegation of blame and to provide
justification or defense for and to protect from attack or encroachment.
We understand that we are to defend the Confederate Soldier’s good
name. We understand that we will
guard his history. We understand that we are to emulate his virtues and
perpetuate the principles he loved. We
finally understand that it is our duty to see that the true history of the South
is presented to future generations.
Therefore,
we reject any attempt to alter or change our Charge.
We reject any slogan or motto that seeks to undermine the Charge such as
the North Carolina Division “slogan” Honoring Our Veterans, Nothing More,
Never Less.”
The
Rowan Rifles Camp #405, Sons of Confederate Veterans will honor our ancestors by
obeying our Charge. We will seek by
all honorable means to protect and defend our heritage, our symbols, our
monuments, our history and our culture against all enemies both within and
without of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
We
realize that members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans share a common
heritage. This heritage is
especially unique and proud. We
realize that our ancestors fought for a just cause, only being overpowered by a
superior might. We realize that
their cause was real and that they did not go to war to risk their lives,
property, fortunes, and honor simply so that today we would meet and polish
their headstones. We realize that
today, like during the great conflict, there were differences of opinion. But as
to the issues of principle to the truth, there will be no compromise.