Charge to the Sons of Confederate Veterans

"To you, Sons of Confederate Veterans, we will commit the vindication of the cause for which we fought.
To your strength will be given the defense of the Confederate soldier's good name, the guardianship of his
history, the emulation of his virtues, the perpetuation of those principles which he loved and which you
love also, and those ideals which made him glorious and which you also cherish."

Lt. General Stephen Dill Lee,
Commander General, United Confederate Veterans,
New Orleans, Louisiana, April 25, 1906.

The citizen-soldiers who fought for the Confederacy personified the best qualities of America.
The preservation of liberty and freedom was the motivating factor in the South's decision to fight
the Second American Revolution. The tenacity with which Confederate soldiers fought underscored
their belief in the rights guaranteed by the Constitution. These attributes are the underpinning
of our democratic society and represent the foundation on which this nation was built.

Today, the Sons of Confederate Veterans is preserving the history and legacy of these heroes so that
future generations can understand the motives that animated the Southern Cause. The SCV is the direct
heir of the United Confederate Veterans, and the oldest hereditary organization for male descendents
of Confederate soldiers. Organized at Richmond, Virginia in 1896, the SCV continues to serve as a
historical, patriotic, and non-political organization dedicated to ensuring that a true history of the
1861-1865 period is preserved. Membership in the Sons of Confederate Veterans is open to all male
descendants of any veteran who served honorably in the Confederate armed forces.