Southern Heritage Information
Southern Disaster Relief Funds & Beauvoir

Southern Disaster Relief Funds and deliveries in Mississippi

The following lists the updated information that we have received on September 3.

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Two Semi-loads enroute to Wiggins, Mississippi

From: dgmcleod@erols.com

Wednesday 31 August 2005

Commander Sweeney,

Sir, I am sorry to be the bearer of the following news.  I am a special agent and working on the coast.  Yesterday, I visited Beauvoir.  The Museum/giftshop is GONE, the first floor to the library is blown out, the front of President Davis' home is blown out and much furniture destroyed.  President Davis' bedroom so far has weathered the storm.  

I was able to locate and retrieve some firearms and swords prior to them finding their way to Ebay.  We also moved all the paintings from the front towards the back in order to better secure them from additional damage.  We are unable to secure the site additionally due to our missions.  I also ran into a few personnel who worked at Beauvoir.  They too tried to help.  Unfortuneately, the situation down here is very bleak.  There is no power or water.  Nobody can assist us now as there are no supplies. 

Please provide me with a telephone number and I will contact you further.

Kindly,
Dave McLeod
SCV/MOSB
 

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TO: FRIENDS OF CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL HALL MUSEUM

FROM: SAM HOOD 
MEMBER, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
DATE: SEPT. 2, 2005

Thank you for your compassionate concern for the welfare of the museum and staff in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. I live in West Virginia, and at this point I am the only official with CMH that is unaffected by the recent tragic events in New Orleans.

Our Curator Pat Ricci has asked me to check emails, and send an update to each of you. Due to the volume of emails, I cannot answer each individually, and I trust that this "form" type reply will answer your questions.

Pat and her family, as well as the staff members of CMH are all safe, although apparently all have lost their homes to flooding. She is temporarily living in a motel in Arkansas. She has made contact with some of the Board members, and of those, all are safe, but all have lost, to some degree, either homes or businesses (or both) to storm damage.

Pat received reports from a New Orleans police officer that the museum itself seems to have avoided flooding, although the basement area may be flooded with storm sewer backup. The building structure suffered only minor wind damage, but until someone can enter the building, it is not known if the roof leaked, or the basement flooded. The major concern at this time is looting and vandalism. The National D-Day Museum across Camp Street was looted and vandalized.

Thankfully, some wise and sympathetic New Orleans police officers took the initiative to pull down the sign in front of CMH that identified the facility as a Confederate shrine, so hopefully it will not be vandalized.

We sincerely appreciate your concern for our beloved museum. It will be several days or perhaps weeks before we can assess the situation with any degree of detail.

Several of you have indicated a desire to contribute to a fund for the benefit of the museum. Even if the museum survived unscathed (which is highly unlikely), the museum will be severely affected by a total loss of revenue for the upcoming months. CMH receives no public support, and relies totally on contributions and visitor admissions to keep the doors open.

At this time a special fund account is being opened, and anyone wishing to contribute is encouraged to do so. Please email me at shood321@aol.com for further information.

If you wish to keep abreast of the condition of Confederate Memorial Hall Museum, and other Civil War historical sites in the hurricane affected area, I suggest you visit www.civilwarinteractive.com, and click their Hurricane Katrina Civil War History Damage Assessment page. I have been, and will continue to provide updates on the museum to the Civil War Interactive webmaster.

Thanks again for your interest. Please keep the staff of Confederate Memorial Hall Museum in your thoughts and prayers.

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LoS delivers supplies in Mississippi

Compatriots: Our expedition to aid John Cripps and family in south Mississippi has been successful. We brought in an 8000-volt generation, 130 gallons of gasoline, food, and other supplies. John sends his heartfelt thank to all of you who have contributed.

He is now housing about 10 of his neighbours, and says that he can accomodate up to about 50 folks on his farm.

We will make another run early next week, God willing. John has given us a list of some further needs, and we will begin collecting them at once.

John wants to make his farm a camp for our displaced folks and eventual to make it a staging area for clean up and repair in the Biloxi-Gulfport area and inland.

Thanks to all of you for your generous donations to the LS Katrina Relief Fund. We will need more resources, however, since we have just begun the process of helping restore civilization to the area.

Our special thanks go to the brave and intrepid fellows who made this run and have promised to make others. We will, however, need other volunteers to go into the area.

Will keep you posted. Thanks again for your support and prayers.

FSI,

Michael

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As we all know communication is very limited in the areas struck by the hurricane. So those that have communication of any kind with people who line or near the devastated areas please pass on the information on Wiggins, Mississippi and the directions. Also get location of any of Our Compatriots who have needs and what they are. We will assist as best we can in distributing this information to the Relief Funds and those making deliveries.

The Relief Funds listed below do not spend your money on fancy offices and salaries, the funds are used to provide direct assistance to those who have suffered loses and need supplies and materials. Yes the government will get around to them someday, lets not make then wait.

SCV Disaster Relief Fund Information Gentlemen, As you all have no doubt seen Hurricane Katrina has wrought much damage across the Florida peninsula and along the Gulf Coast from extreme NW Florida to as far west as New Orleans, La.  Many of our compatriots will be affected by this catastrophic weather event. Compatriots wishing to assist those compatriots who have suffered from the impact of this storm may send financial contributions to: SCV Relief Fund PO Box 59 Columbia, TN 38402 The SCV Relief Fund provides short term stipends to meet members needs when situations arise that impact member needs regarding food, shelter, medication or medical supplies. We must help our brothers. Members must make their needs known. Contact may be made through IHQ or any of the following committee members: Douglas D. Dawson --Chairman 2421 Leruth Dr Pensacola, Fl 32514-7736 1-877-473-5237 or 850-478-3398  Jack A Bridwell Ph. D. Po Box 1353 Moultrie, GA 31776 229-985-8409 Donald G Shelton 110 Apple Grove Nicholasville,  KY  40536 859-885-3248  LEAGUE OF THE SOUTH "KATRINA" RELIEF FUND        The League of the South will undertake a relief fund for our members who were victims of Hurricane Katrina.        Our first order of business has been to contact our members in south Alabama, south Mississippi, and southeast Louisiana who were in the storm's path. Thus far, we are happy to note that most of our members in Mobile and the surrounding areas of southwest Alabama have reported in safely with little major property damage. However, because of our inability to contact LS members in Mississippi and Louisiana, we have no idea about their status or specific needs. I can report, however, that Ron Kennedy and his family, who live in Mandeville (north of NO on the lake front), are safe in north Louisiana. Dr. and Mrs. Milburn Calhoun, owners of Pelican Publishers of Gretna, are also there and safe as well.        Once we're able to confirm the status of our members from these areas, we will assess their needs, and then use the funds we've collected to provide for those needs. Because of the widespread destruction it is likely that the recovery period will stretch over many months.        The LS Katrina Relief Fund will be administered by the LS Board of Directors. Funds will not be distributed until we can confirm the exact needs of our members and until we can actually deliver the goods. Obviously, some of our less well-off members will be placed at the top of the list for assistance. Any funds collected that are not used for this particular emergency will be sequestered in a separate account to be used for future emergency events.        If you would like to help us help our own people, please send your non-tax-deductible donation, marked "Katrina Relief Fund" and made payable to the League, to LS PO Box 760 Killen, Alabama 35645. May God bless you and may He relieve the suffering of our people.        On behalf of the LS Board of Directors, Michael Hill President, The League of the South   BEAUVOIR RELIEF FUND Gentlemen:   Pursuant to directions from Commander General Daniel Jones, the MOSB is formally announcing the process and procedure for the BEAUVOIR RELIEF FUND.  Cmdr. Jones has asked Army of Tennessee Commander Phillip Law to coordinate this relief effort.  I have spoken with Rick Forte, President of the Beauvoir board this morning.  Rick said some looting has occurred, and graphically described the destruction in and around the grounds.  Currently there are several folks onsite, but the temperature is stifling, and there is no electricity, water, etc.. All local stores on the beachfront are totally destroyed.   Commander Law, who resides in nearby Mobile, Alabama, will serve as the local coordinator of donations and the relief effort.  At this time, donations are urgently requested to be sent to:   Make checks/MO's payable to:  MOSB and reference "Beauvoir Relief Fund" in the Memo line.   MOSB PO Box 1274 Fairhope, AL  36533-1274   The Beauvoir employees who have stayed are under great physical hardship.  A seperate plea for the use of a travel trailer and generators is also being made.  Those wishing to provide a travel trailer and/or generator are urged to contact Rick Forte directly at 601-268-3323.   Currently the following groups and entities are known to be sending relief moneys and aide for the Beauvoir Relief Fund:    National MOSB $1,000; Stand Watie Camp #1303 (OK), Tandy Walker #729 (OK), Oklahoma Division; Indian Territory Society; DH Cooper Chapter (MOSB); Patrick R. Cleburne Chapter (MOSB).   GENTLEMEN, THIS IS NOT just an MOSB project.  EVERY SCV CAMP, BRIGADE AND DIVISION should participate.  Forward this email to the UDC, the Civil War Roundtables, and our numerous Friends of the Confederacy.  This is the time to rally all good Southern Folks.   Send your donations today, and we thank you for your support.   Jeff Massey Past Cmdr. General & Life Member MOSB   [[reminder:: the  Military Order of the Stars & Bars is a 501c3 organization and your donation may be tax deductible]]