Southern Cross of Honor (Dixie Forever)

The Southern Cross of Honor is a medal awarded to Confederate Veterans by the Confederate Congress, in recognition of "loyal, honorable service to the South," worn only by Confederate veterans. The honor could not be purchased, and could only be bestowed.

The first Cross was bestowed on Mrs. Erwin's husband, Captain Alexander S Erwin, in Athens, GA on April 26, 1866. The original crosses were serial-numbered and a list of the original 78,761 recipients is maintained by the Order of the Southern Cross to this day.