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Members of Elliott Grays
Chapter 1877 traveled to Wisconsin Dells, Wisc.,
on May 31, 2004, to present a Stonewall Jackson
Medal to Mr. Oliver Reese at the gravesite of
Confederate spy and Virginia native Belle Boyd.
Mr. Reese, a member of the Harold Larkins Post
of the American Legion, has raised the Stars
and Stripes, the flag of the Commonwealth of
Virginia, and the Stars and Bars over Miss Boyd's
grave at Spring Grove Cemetery each Memorial
Day since 1952. The Chapter also presented a Certificate of Merit from Virginia Division UDC and a letter of appreciation from Governor Mark Warner on behalf of the citizens of Virginia. |
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| Elliott Grays Chapter members Ruthb D. Snead (left) and Mary Andersen at the gravesite of Belle Boyd at Spring Grove Cemetery in Wisconsin Dells, Wisc., on Memorial Day 2004. Stones in front of memorial were taken from each of the 13 Confederate States. |
| Chapter members and their husbands were guests at the Wisconsin Dells American Legion Memorial Day picnic at Bowman Park. They were also treated to a guided tour of the Upper Dells on the Belle Boyd Cruiser and a visit to the H.H. Bennett Museum by Mr. Reese, his wife Jean, and their daughter and son-in-law Deborah and Jim Kinder. The Dells Boat, Belle Boyd Cruiser, had been christened by Elliott Grays Chapter President Mrs. J.W. Phillips in 1952 with waters from the James River and is the only ship to officially fly the Confederate Flag. Chapter members also enjoyed a tour of the Jennie Bowman House, which is home to chairs made by Confederate President Jefferson F. Davis. |
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The Dells Boats, Belle Boyd Cruiser |
| A highlight of the visit was meeting a very special young man, Michael Hess, Jr. Michael's father had previously lived at the Travelers Hotel, where Belle Boyd died on June 11, 1900, in Room #1. Miss Boyd, a popular attraction at Grand Army of the Republic halls (the forerunner of today's American Legion Posts), was on a speaking tour in Wisconsin at the time of her death. Michael Hess, Sr., had saved a finial from the stairway of the Travelers Hotel prior to its demolition. During the Memorial Day picnic, young Michael presented the finial to members of the Elliott Grays Chapter. |
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Michael
Hess, Jr., presents the finial from the stairway
of the Travelers Hotel to Ruth Snead as Mary Andersen looks on.
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| Although Mr. Reese will be retiring soon, his daughter plans to ensure that Belle Boyd will be remembered by taking on her father's duties. |
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Oliver
and Jean Reese with Ruth D. Snead. The Chapter
presented Mr. Reese with a Stonewall Jackson
Medal and a book of essays on Wisconsin's Iron
Brigade.
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