Thursday, Jun 1, 2006
In cooperation with local and national veteran’s organizations, the park held a Memorial Day program on Sunday, May 28th.
The program featured as speaker Lieutenant Colonel Steve McCorkle, brigade commander from the 48th Infantry Battalion, who had just returned from a one year deployment in Iraq. McCorkle was introduced by Congressman Sanford Bishop. The program also featured presentation of 30 wreaths from various veterans and service organizations. Honor guards from the Air Force, Army and Marine Corps presented Taps, a 21-gun salute and the colors. Music for the program was provided by the Fort Benning Infantry Center Band.
As Andersonville NHS is the national memorial to all prisoners of war in American history, the former POWs in attendance were recognized by American Ex-Prisoners of War national director Charlie Hill. There were 600 visitors in attendance at the program.
This year’s program was dedicated to those who have given their lives in Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom. Congressman Bishop used the occasion to present to Andersonville NHS the Veterans Braintrust Award for service to veterans. The program which has its roots back in the late 19th Century is held on Sunday, which is the traditional holiday to honor those who have died in service.
On the Saturday before the event, 400 Boy and Girl Scouts placed nearly 20,000 flags at each of the headstones in Andersonville National Cemetery. This aspect of the event involves close partnering with youth organizations, which resulted in twice as many participants than in recent years. The involvement of youth is appropriate, as kids have the opportunity to give back to those who have served our country while learning about their heritage in the process.
Also on Saturday, more than 300 motorcyclists from the US Military Veterans Motorcycle Club rallied at the park and held a program to honor veterans.
On Monday, May 29th, volunteer John Gray sounded Taps on his bugle in the National Cemetery on the hour from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Gray is a member of Bugles Across America and has played Taps for funerals in the national cemetery. Each time he played Taps, he did so from a different monument in the cemetery, honoring the men from those states who died at Camp Sumter.
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