An SCLA member recorded her thoughts after participating in the CHT's Confederate Ghost Walk. She has granted us permission to post them here.

           Spiritual Hugs

I slipped beyond the veil last night
To a different time and place
A place where I could only feel
The spirits whispering as their breath
Gently caressed my face
In a long ago time forgotten by so many
I walked among a garden of headstones
Each their own story to tell
Of each weary battle.........
A living hell
I could see the womenfolk
In their long flowing gowns
Heads bent low from grieving
As they said good-bye to loved ones
When they were being put down
Oh!!.....how I long to reach out and touch them
To hold them
To comfort them
To let them know
I feel their pain
As I was allowed to continue my journey
Beyond the veil
I saw the panoramic view
Of this great and unnecessary war
And my heart nearly failed
From Gettysburg to Charleston
Dixie was pillaged and burned
As Sherman marched to the sea
Our brave men fought and died
To keep their Country free
And these strong Southern Women
Never lost their dignity
Through the slipstream the view
Continued to unfold
I sat down and let my fingers caress
The stone where I sat
Our Souls met..........our fingers touched
Our bonding was bold!!........
My journey continued
How long........I do not know......while these
Spirits whispered their sad tales
From long.....long.......long..........ago
Our Southland was beaten for awhile, but
After our dead were buried
These courageous survivors
Began the task of starting over
They were down but not out, and our
Southern Hospitality showed with each smile
The veil began to close................and I felt sad
It was time for me to go
I felt the spiritual hugs and was told
To spread their truths
To keep their History and Heritage alive
Untarnished and unblemished for all time and eternity
I stood up and looked around, and..........
I truly knew
I was standing on sacred ground!!........and
Then I turned for one last look
Because I did not want to leave,....then I heard
The 'FATHER' ..whisper to me
"Its all right, they are here with me."

Shirley Faciane
10/14/01

click here for Shirley's photo         click here to see photos of the Ghost Walk