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From the Wednesday 2 Jun edition of the Daily Corinthian:
SHILOH, Tenn. -- Shiloh National Military Park will host a public observance of Tennessee Confederate Decoration Day at 2 p.m. Thursday, Superintendent Woody Harrell announced.
Under Tennessee state law, each June 3 -- the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis -- is designated Confederate Decoration or Memorial Day, a day of special observance.
“As Tennessee’s largest Civil War battlefield park, Shiloh is pleased to partner with the State of Tennessee to mark this special day,” Harrell said. “We are especially honored to have Sen. Douglas Henry as our principal speaker. Sen. Henry’s leadership in establishing the Tennessee Wars Commission has been a key element in preserving our state’s rich military heritage.”
The program to be held on Tour Stop No. 6 -- Water Oaks Pond -- will incorporate a ground breaking ceremony for the long- anticipated Tennessee State monument which will, in the coming year, be erected just south of Water Oaks Pond, a spot familiar to many Tennessee troops at the Battle of Shiloh.
“After 14 years of planning and preparation for a Tennessee State Monument at Shiloh, I am excited to see construction begin,” said Harrell.
Taking part in the ceremony will be State Reps. Randy Rinks and Steve McDaniel; Janet Johnson, president of the Tennessee Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy; and Jerry Lessenberry, 2nd lieutenant commander of the Tennessee Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
The ceremony will offer the first chance for the public to view the design of the new monument, as Sculptor G.L. Sanders of Pampa, Texas, will be on hand to unveil a clay model of his work.
“We invite all citizens to come to Shiloh Battlefield to observe this special day and to remember all the Tennesseans who fought at the bloody Battle of Shiloh and throughout the turbulent four years of the American Civil War.” Harrell said. “These dedicated Tennesseans left their homes, families and way of life to stand up and fight for the cause in which they believed. Many of these dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers would return home wounded. Many would not return at all. As Gen. Patrick Cleburne is quoted, ‘The Tennesseans had more to fight for. The fight was for their homes and firesides.’”
Throughout the years, Tennessee has earned the nickname, “The Volunteer State,” and the Civil War was no different as thousands of Tennesseans rushed to enlist. A total of 186, 652 Tennesseans were enlisted into 110 regiments, 33 battalions and 54 separate or independent companies or batteries for service to the Confederate States of America.
Preliminary Civil War period music will be provided by the 52nd Regimental Band from 1:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. At the conclusion of the ceremony, there will be a dedication and laying of memorial wreaths at the Confederate Memorial and each of the five Confederate mass graves marked on the battlefield today.
The laying of the wreaths will be conducted by representatives from the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Each wreath will be escorted by a living historian in period Civil War uniform.
SHILOH, Tenn. -- Shiloh National Military Park will host a public observance of Tennessee Confederate Decoration Day at 2 p.m. Thursday, Superintendent Woody Harrell announced.
Under Tennessee state law, each June 3 -- the birthday of Confederate President Jefferson Davis -- is designated Confederate Decoration or Memorial Day, a day of special observance.
“As Tennessee’s largest Civil War battlefield park, Shiloh is pleased to partner with the State of Tennessee to mark this special day,” Harrell said. “We are especially honored to have Sen. Douglas Henry as our principal speaker. Sen. Henry’s leadership in establishing the Tennessee Wars Commission has been a key element in preserving our state’s rich military heritage.”
The program to be held on Tour Stop No. 6 -- Water Oaks Pond -- will incorporate a ground breaking ceremony for the long- anticipated Tennessee State monument which will, in the coming year, be erected just south of Water Oaks Pond, a spot familiar to many Tennessee troops at the Battle of Shiloh.
“After 14 years of planning and preparation for a Tennessee State Monument at Shiloh, I am excited to see construction begin,” said Harrell.
Taking part in the ceremony will be State Reps. Randy Rinks and Steve McDaniel; Janet Johnson, president of the Tennessee Division of the United Daughters of the Confederacy; and Jerry Lessenberry, 2nd lieutenant commander of the Tennessee Division of the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
The ceremony will offer the first chance for the public to view the design of the new monument, as Sculptor G.L. Sanders of Pampa, Texas, will be on hand to unveil a clay model of his work.
“We invite all citizens to come to Shiloh Battlefield to observe this special day and to remember all the Tennesseans who fought at the bloody Battle of Shiloh and throughout the turbulent four years of the American Civil War.” Harrell said. “These dedicated Tennesseans left their homes, families and way of life to stand up and fight for the cause in which they believed. Many of these dedicated, enthusiastic volunteers would return home wounded. Many would not return at all. As Gen. Patrick Cleburne is quoted, ‘The Tennesseans had more to fight for. The fight was for their homes and firesides.’”
Throughout the years, Tennessee has earned the nickname, “The Volunteer State,” and the Civil War was no different as thousands of Tennesseans rushed to enlist. A total of 186, 652 Tennesseans were enlisted into 110 regiments, 33 battalions and 54 separate or independent companies or batteries for service to the Confederate States of America.
Preliminary Civil War period music will be provided by the 52nd Regimental Band from 1:30 p.m. until 2 p.m. At the conclusion of the ceremony, there will be a dedication and laying of memorial wreaths at the Confederate Memorial and each of the five Confederate mass graves marked on the battlefield today.
The laying of the wreaths will be conducted by representatives from the United Daughters of the Confederacy and the Sons of Confederate Veterans. Each wreath will be escorted by a living historian in period Civil War uniform.