Skunk Brigade attends Patriot Grave Marking

On Saturday, May 11, the Skunk Brigade, Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution, traveled to the Phillips Mill Baptist Church in Wilkes County, GA to participate in the Patriot Rev Silas Mercer Grave Marking. Members of the Skunk Brigade attending were Alton McCloud, President of the Little River Chapter; Bill Tankersley, Central East Region Vice President; Steve Burke, President Wiregrass Chapter; Dess Smith III, dual member; Patrick Carr, Chapter; Ted Walker, Past President South Carolina Society; Don Bazemore, Sgt-at-Arms Brier Creek Chapter; Lee Herron, dual member Mill Creek Chapter; John Derden, dual member Four Rivers Chapter; and Woody Woodard, member Little River Chapter. McCloud was the Master of Ceremonies and called on Scott Collins, the National Color Guard Commander, for the Presentation of the Colors. After the Pledges, McCloud introduced Compatriot Dr. Derden for his presentation of the Biography of Patriot Rev Silas Mercer. Then Compatriot Tankersley called out the wreath presentations. There were over 30 wreath presenters. McCloud then called on the Color Guard Commander Collins for the retrieval of Colors. Commander Collins then ordered the three-round volley by over 15 militia with their flintlocks followed by the Brier Creek Artillery with their cannons. Compatriot Bazemore played taps on his bugle followed by “Mourn Muskets”, the Benediction, Retiring the Colors and the SAR Recessional. The Grave Marking event was sponsored by the Little River and Washington Wilkes Chapters of the Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution.

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