By SONDRA MCKINLEY
Special to Atmore News
Saturday, August 11, 2018 was an exciting day in historic Canoe, Alabama as several ladies stood together at the candlelight charter ceremony for the State of Alabama’s newest chapter of the Order Of Confederate Rose. The Dixie Magnolia Chapter as they will be known, started the chapter with 13 charter members.
The Order of Confederate Rose or OCR is a heritage organization comprised of women who have a passion for history and a desire to honor the brave men and women who sacrificed and suffered through the War Between the States.
The first State Society OCR was formed in Alabama in 1993 by ladies who discussed the concept of having an organization for the wives of the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Many years later there are OCR societies in several states across the US and overseas.
The Confederate Rose is made up from all walks of life, races, and genders. The Order of Confederate Rose is an independent Southern Heritage / History Organization. It is our primary purpose to assist our Southern brothers – The Sons of Confederate Veterans – in their projects and activities. The rules are few and that allows us to add many of our own projects to those supporting the SCV.
The OCR promotes the honorable memory of the Confederate soldiers, Southern symbols, true history, and true Southern heritage. We do not compete with the United Daughters of the Confederacy.
To be in the OCR you do not have to have lineage to a Confederate soldier, only the desire to maintain Southern history and heritage. We have women (“Roses”), men (“Thorns”), and children (“Little Roses and Thorns”).
We study, do programs at schools, museums, and festivals. We honor those who served in the war with dedications, memorials, setting flags, and even gravestones. We have given financial support as available to many Southern causes.
Several of our members are “Black Roses,” the ladies in black, mourning the Confederate dead at memorial services. Some are re-enactors, traveling to battlefields and spending time dressing as our ancestors, attending “Teas,” living the personas of ladies from the past, and cheering on the boys in gray.
The OCR is a family organization in which husbands and children as well as ladies are among our ranks.
If you are interested in joining a The Dixie Magnolia Chapter of Order of Confederate Rose or would simply like more information, please contact
Sondra McKinley at 251-236-0481 or check out the Facebook page at The Dixie Magnolia Chapter-Order of Confederate Rose.