*Sons of Confederate Veterans is an international fraternal society founded over 100 years ago and is a 501,3c Not-for- Profit organization whose mission is education and preserving the memory of the Confederate soldier.   For more details visit: www.scv.org  or the brand new camp website: www.coffeecamp.org  

For immediate release:

Southern Heritage Group Adopts Highway

The John T. Coffee Camp #1934, Sons of Confederate Veterans (SCV) has been accepted into the Missouri Department of Transportation (MODOT) Adopt-A-Highway program, according to Vicky Luciano, Joplin District of MODOT.  The J. T. Coffee Camp will be responsible for a section of State highway south of Osceola, Missouri. The Coffee Camp is a local chapter of the Sons of Confederate Veterans which is an international society that seeks to preserve the memory of the Confederate soldier and address Southern heritage issues.

Chartered in Stockton, Missouri the J. T. Coffee Camp serves much of the greater Osage River Valley including Osceola.  The group adopted a 1.2 mile section of MO Highway 82 between Bus. 82 and the Broyles Branch Bridge.  This includes the roadside park where the famous Missouri Brigade Monument stands.  The large granite structure commemorates the formation of the storied First Missouri Brigade C.S.A. at that location on 01Nov1861.

Acceptance into the Adopt-A-Highway program is part of the continuing program of community service that the Coffee Camp endorses.  They also participate in many cultural and educational events through out the year.  The Missouri Brigade Park on Hwy. 82 is often used for hosting educational events about Missouri history that are free to the public.

In November of 2001 with the participation of the U. S. Army Corps of Engineers through their representative Ranger Richard Childes the Coffee Camp dedicated the Missouri red granite monument to the public.  The event was attended by local dignitaries, SCV members, re-enactors, and nearly 300 people. The roadside park on Hwy. 82 is already maintained by the Coffee Camp and is used by the public for a variety of activities.  “We are very grateful to both the Corps of Engineers and the local people for their support and welcome visitors and tourists to enjoy this beautiful and historic place” says Camp Commander Gary Ayres of Humansville, “The rich Civil War heritage of Western Missouri has a great potential to draw visitors so they can have a deeper understanding of the important history that took place here.”

More information about the park is on the Camp website: www.coffeecamp.org