[VAcourier] Update on Oakwood Confederate Cemetery

[Virginia Division SCV Communication List]

I've just returned from the National Reunion in Hot Springs, Arkansas 
where we delivered a well received PowerPoint presentation on Oakwood 
Cemetery - Confederate Section. The Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) was 
signed by both myself and C-i-C McMichael at the Friday business 
session. At this point, we need to get the MOA back to our attorney, 
Patrick McSweeney, for the signatures of the City of Richmond officials. 
Obviously, progress is being made and we are very near an agreement.

The first block of stones have been confirmed and will be ordered soon, 
and a letter from the City has gone to the Veterans Administration 
requesting that they provide the upright stones to the Virginia Division 
for installation at Oakwood. According to our agreement with the City, 
the stones will be installed row by row, section by section and not 
randomly. As soon as I receive a list of the names and the order of 
placement of the stones, I will send that information out and it will be 
posted on the Division Web site. The Restoration Committee has also 
initiated a Friends & Descendants of Oakwood program similar to the 
Point Lookout Descendants Association. Information on this program and 
forms to join will be placed on the Division Web site soon. This will be 
an annual membership generating funds for future maintenance, care, and 
upkeep of Oakwood.

I personally would like to see an "Adopt an Unknown" Oakwood Confederate 
Program initiated as well but this will be addressed in future planning 
sessions. Please consider supporting either of these programs or send 
your donations directly to the Oakwood Restoration Fund, P.O. Box 114, 
Beaverdam, VA  23015-0114. A tri-fold donation form can be downloaded 
from the Division Web site at: 
http://www.scvva.org/Oakwood/OakwoodTri-Fold.pdf to print and mail along 
with your contribution.

There was much excitement at the convention over the progress being made 
at Oakwood and Virginians have much to be proud of, but let's keep in 
mind that this is not just a Virginia Division project, it is a project 
of every SCV member and descendant of those buried in Oakwood from 
across the Confederation. Please keep us in your prayers as we proceed. 
This is going to be an ongoing project that will take several years to 
complete but I feel that we are certainly up to the challenge and we 
must not let our Confederate Veterans down as they gave their all for us.



John Sawyer, Commander
Virginia Division SCV