I am saddened to report that as of June 1, 2012 the New Mexico Civil War Commemorative Congress will be disbanded.
Hello everyone,
I would like to thank everyone who attended the 150th Anniversary event for coming and I hope everyone enjoyed themselves. I know that some people are aware of issues that took place and I have sent out a previous email to address that issue. Most of you know that the last two years we have been asking for unit participation and even begging for help from the units, as Congress membership has been decreasing.
About 25 years ago, reenacting units in New Mexico fought constantly, each accusing the other of different things. They would not come to one another’s events, they would not cooperate with one another, and there was no camaraderie amongst reenactors at all.
Congress was begun as a communication unit: to help bring all of the units together so that everyone knew what was going on, to realize that no one was trying to outdo the other and to realize that they all really wanted to cooperate. Within the organization of Congress, we realize that the event we just sponsored was possible with the cooperation of all of the units. This seemed to be working quite well over the past 23 or so.
For the last few years we have been asking for more unit support. We have been at the point of begging for unit participation in Congress. Congress needs 4 active units to maintain its integrity. This has not been forthcoming and there has been talk of disbanding Congress. Those of us working in Congress have become very weary. It was felt that we needed to continue through the 150th and see what type of cooperation we were able to get from our local units. I’m happy to say that the Civil War Ladies League, the Artillery Company of New Mexico, the 4th Texas Light Artillery unit and Pappy, as the Confederate liaison, have given great support to Congress. These units have worked tirelessly to make these events happen. Unfortunately, it was proven to us at this event that our hopes for help from other local units would not be forthcoming.
If there is a unit who wishes to try to organize like Congress did in the past, I wish them luck. However, the name “New Mexico Civil War Commemorative Congress,” or “NM CW Congress,” will not be allowed to be used by any other entity.
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The Museum of El Rancho de las Golondrinas is aware of our decision and has made arrangements for another event on what would have been our Civil War Weekend in the future.
I hope that this hobby does not revert to its old ways. Good luck to everyone.
Madeleine
President, New Mexico Civil War Commemorative Congress
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The New Mexico Civil War Commemorative Congress was founded in 1991 as a coordinating body and venue for inter-unit communication. The NMCWCC has been the organizing body for the El Rancho de las Golondrinas Civil War Weekend, the largest Civil War reenactment event in New Mexico. This event was originally held on the site of the March 1862 Battle of Glorietta Pass, as a means of encouraging Congress to incorporate the site into the National Park Service. That mission having been accomplished the event is now held on the grounds of the El Rancho de las Golondrinas Living History Museum. The Congress has from time to time facilitated a number of other living history events and projects.