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Oran M. RobertsChapter 440United Daughters of the Confederacy®Houston, Harris County, Texas |
L to R - Front: Members of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, Texas
L to R - Back: Karen Campbell, Judy Meschwitz, Lynna Kay Shuffield,
Anne Woods, Rita Crabbe, Janice Langford
On Saturday, 3 June 2006, the Oran M. Roberts Chapter 440, United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) held a Gravemarker Dedication Ceremony to honor the service of 19 Confederate Veterans at the Heards-Prairie Petteway Cemetery near Bremond, Robertson County, Texas.
Mrs. Janice K. Langford, President Texas Division, UDC of Huffman, Texas was the Presiding Officer and performed the ritual of dedication to honor the memory of these men and the remember their service during a monumental time-period in America.
Karen Campbell, Chaplain of Oran M. Roberts Chapter, 440, UDC read the prayer and Lynna Kay Shuffield read the poem, “A Dedication” by Rev. Dr. Randolph McKim.
There were well-over 350 individuals who attended the ceremony, which also included a celebration of the Heards-Prairie Baptist Church’s 130th Anniversary.
The markers were provided at no charge from the U.S. Dept. of Veterans Affairs and placed in the cemetery by Leonard White, the long-time caretaker of the cemetery since 1985.
The program for the day was coordinated by Jerrie Jones Dickens Yates and Kay Lynn Mayer Knee. These ladies did an amazing job and produced an outstanding event.
The color guard for the ceremony was provided by the reenactors of the 7th Cavalry Regiment, Texas and included: 1st Lt. Mark Hanna, Sgt. Ron Paynter, Trooper Tim Lee, Trooper Mike Kientzle and Trooper Wililam Paynter.
Also participating in the ceremony was Rev. Kenny O’Quinn, pastor of the Heards Prairie Church.
The program ended with singing “Dixie” and a cannon salute was performed by Randy Billingsley of Maysfield, Texas with his one-pound cannon, known as “Little Sister.” He was assisted by Gene Shuffield of Houston. The cannon carriage is replicated from 1800s period and was used as a community cannon to signal volunteer "Minute Men" to form in town to aid against Indian attacks.
Members of the Oran M. Roberts Chapter, located in Houston, who attended the ceremony were: Rita Crabbe, Karen Byars Campbell, Judy Hoke Meschwitz, Lynna Kay Shuffield and Anne Richardson Woods. Also attending from the L. S. Ross Chapter 100, UDC, located in Bryan, were: Doris Johnson Emshoff and Anna Robertson Kellett.
This webpage was created on 23 June 2006 and was last revised on ______________ 2006
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On 12 July 1994 our name "United Daughters of the Confederacy" was officially approved by the Patent Trademark Office of the United States and may not be used without the express written permission of the United Daughters of the Confederacy, 328 North Boulevard, Richmond,
VA 23220-4057.
On 26 July 1994 our insignia (logo) was also approved by the Patent Trademark Office of the United States. Therefore they are not to be used without permission and when displayed must have the copyright symbol. As stated in the 1997 UDC Bylaws on page 41, Article 34 Insignia Section 2, a & b.