On May 1, 2010, SCV & UDC members from various camps and chapters arrived in force to help out with the Oakwood Confederate Cemetery Clean-up Work Day.

The growth along the fence line was removed and loaded onto a trailer for disposal. A few got poison ivy since it was clinging to the small trees and scrub brush.

Plans were made to chart the newly uncovered numbered markers along the fence line. On the opposite side of Oakwood, some of our workers found a pointed marker that had been tossed over the steep cliff. It belonged to the private section of Oakwood for individual family plots and these pointed markers had metal pipes connecting them to fence in the family plots.

Continuing down the fence line, scrub brush was dragged to the relocated trailer. Chairman Lee Hart brings a chain saw to the next location for trimming the small trees.

Past Division Commander John Sawyer presents an "Oakwood Plaque" to Compatriot John Kindred in recognition of his tireless efforts to document the location of the Confederate soldiers buried at Oakwood. Work continues in loading the trailer multiple times to discard of the trimmings.

Tommy Mundy stomps down the scrub brush on the trailer which allowed us to transport more trimmings per load. Several weed whips were used to trim grass and low lying growth near the fence line.

ANV Cmdr. Brag Bowling stands ready with a chain saw to help clear the larger brush/trees from the fence line. John Kindred and Joe Wright probe the soil near the fence line to uncover the hidden numbered markers there. We gathered at the gazebo to take a break and have a little water to drink. Victory with the machete as the scrub brush falls! Pat Wood walks along the existing markers and writes down all of the names on those markers to be compared with ongoing research regarding the location of the individual soldiers buried at Oakwood.

Our thanks go to everyone that assisted with the Oakwood Clean-up Day which included the following SCV Camps & UDC Chapters:

SCV Camps
13th Virginia Mechanized Cavalry Camp #9
Clinton Hatcher Camp #21
The Old Brunswick Camp #512
Maj. Gen. William D. McCain HQ Camp #584
Gen. James Longstreet Camp #1247
Urquhart-Gillette Camp #1471
Norfolk County Grays Camp #1549
Tom Smith Camp #1702
Lane Armistead Camp #1772
47th Virginia Cavalry Camp #2124
Rev. Beverly Tucker Lacy Camp #2141
Edmund Ruffin Fire Eaters Camp #3000

UDC Chapters
Fredericksburg Chapter #163
Janet Randolph Chapter #1932

Hopefully we did not miss anyone as these are the ones that gave their names and camp or chapters for the participation roster. We hope to schedule another Oakwood Cemetery Clean-up Day in the Fall when the weather is cooler.