Honoring and Preserving the Legacy of Our Confederate Ancestors

The Society of Confederate Descendants' Guardian Program is a special initiative designed to honor the memory of Confederate veterans by ensuring their final resting places are well-preserved and maintained. Through this program, members of the Society are given the opportunity to protect the gravesites of these soldiers, ensuring their legacy endures for future generations.

Purpose of the Guardian Program

The primary purpose of the Guardian Program is to honor Confederate veterans by caring for their gravesites. The program seeks to maintain these final resting places and ensure they are kept clean, presentable, and marked with the appropriate designations of Confederate service. This initiative is not only a tribute to our ancestors but also a preservation effort to protect these historical sites.

Eligibility

Any member of the Society of Confederate Descendants in good standing, who is at least 18 years of age, is eligible to participate in the Guardian Program. To become a Full Guardian, a member must have demonstrated a commitment to caring for a Confederate grave for a minimum of one year. This commitment includes regularly maintaining the grave and ensuring that it is marked appropriately.

Guardian Responsibilities

Guardians are tasked with the following key responsibilities:

Grave Maintenance: The Guardian must personally care for the grave, ensuring it is clean and well-maintained year-round. If the Guardian is physically unable to continue, due to health reasons, alternative arrangements must be made.
Proper Marking: The grave must have an appropriate marker, such as a family stone noting Confederate service, a government-issued veteran’s stone, or a Southern Cross of Honor. If these markers are damaged or worn, it is the Guardian’s responsibility to replace or repair them.
Visits: Guardians are required to visit the grave at least three times a year, including during Confederate Memorial Day/Month. During these visits, they must place either a Confederate flag or wreath on the grave.

Application Process

To become a Guardian, interested individuals must:

Complete the Guardian Application: The form includes details such as the location of the grave and its Confederate veteran, as well as the applicant’s history of tending the grave.
Submit Documentation: Applicants must include a map of the gravesite and photographs of the grave and marker.
Application Fee: A non-refundable fee of $20 is required to cover the cost of a Guardian pin and certificate, awarded upon successful completion of the candidacy period.

Recognition and Honors

Full Guardians receive a special certificate and pin recognizing their service. They are honored at official Society events, including Confederate Memorial Day and Society Reunions. Guardians who care for multiple graves may be awarded additional recognitions, including special certificates and indications on their Guardian pin.

Join the Guardian Program

Becoming a Guardian is a meaningful way to protect and honor the legacy of our Confederate ancestors. By caring for their graves, you ensure that their contributions to history are remembered and respected.

If you are a member of the Society of Confederate Descendants and would like to participate in this important program, download the application here and begin your journey to becoming a Guardian today.

For more information, please contact the Society Guardian Committee.

Download Forms for the Society of Confederate Descendants Guardian Program

Download Guardian Manual

Download Guardian Application