2014 Kentucky Division Reunion Report

Paducah was the site of this year’s reunion; Friday night began with a social at the Tilghman House and Museum; the free tours (thank you!) revealed that tremendous progress continues on the work of repairing and upgrading the house; the upstairs especially has been greatly improved since our last visit. The displays are “museum quality” and the artifacts are significant. In case you weren’t aware, this house and museum are SCV property. It’s a place where we get to tell our story. It’s obvious there has been tremendous community outreach, through events, signage and involvement. Every Kentucky division member should make an effort to visit this unique place.

Saturday the meetings were held at the Trader’s Mall a couple of miles from town; why there, you ask? Because that is next to the site of Kentucky’s only (so far) Interstate Flag project. Visible from a long distance (especially coming from the East) on I-24, the flag and memorial park it rises from are very impressive. One of the major topics in the business meetings was locating a suitable site somewhere else in the state, along I-65, I-75, I-64 etc. The I-69 project is likely to create more traffic on this section of I-24, and new locations we could explore as the rest of 69 is built. If you know of any possible sites, I’m sure Cmdr. Suttles would like to hear from you.

The reunion was well attended, the medals were very nice, and everything was well done. I won’t go into details the minor business matters (of which there were many - allocations for reprinting the “Guide to Confederate Issues in Kentucky”, Commander travel allowance, etc.), but there were items of note:

John Suttles was re-elected our division commander by acclamation, as was our division lt. commander Burl McCoy. This is a testament (in this writer’s humble opinion) to John’s leadership during these last few years, years that weren’t the easiest for our division.

A minor change to the division’s awards was given notice (JAG McCoy determined that the change was not material, so it goes into effect immediately). If there is objection to the change, it should be raised at next year’s business meeting. If you would like a copy of the change, you can contact Cmdr. Suttles.

Russellville was selected as the site of next year’s reunion, date TBD.

The reunion was held in conjunction with observances of the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Paducah; I’ll confess I had to leave before these got underway, so if someone could give me a brief report or pictures, I”ll be glad to post them.

Camp 100 was represented by Burl McCoy, Lynn Tucker, David Harbolt and yours truly. Congratulations to the Tilghman Camp on such a fine reunion. Everyone should consider attending next year; Russellville is of course the site of Kentucky’s secession convention.

Don Shelton