Slideshow

...about remembering...


On Saturday, November 13, I was privileged to attend a memorial service for the Confederate soldier ancestor of a friend. Private Seaborn J. Cobb was honored by a military service conducted by Simpson Mounted Rangers UDC Chapter #2685, Milton, Florida, assisted by a re-enactment unit from Alabama.

Friends and family were in attendance at the solemn ceremony, including Pvt. Cobb’s two young great-great-great-great grandsons who were part of the re-enactment group. At the end of the ceremony, one of the two boys played taps for his great-great-great-great grandfather.


Especially moving was the Libations Ceremony. Each re-enactor knelt at the foot of Pvt. Cobb’s grave, took a sip from his canteen, then poured a bit of water at the foot of the grave, signifying the sharing of water with a fallen comrade.

Along with the playing of taps, the ceremony was concluded with a three-volley, twenty-one gun salute, fired from the muskets of the re-enactors, along with the firing of a cannon after each volley. Then the assembled group sang “Dixie.”

Private Seaborn J. Cobb, we remember....