LIVING HISTORY
EVENT CANCELLED --
BOOK SIGNING
HIGHLIGHTS ROLE OF
UNITED STATES COLORED TROOPS
"Andersonville
Revisited," the living history reenactment scheduled for March 13-14 at
Andersonville National Historic Site, has been cancelled. However, a
scheduled book signing event will continue as planned.
Andersonville National
Historic Site, in partnership with Eastern National, will be hosting author
Bob O'Connor on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, March 12, 13, and 14th
from 10:00 am until 4:00 pm. Mr. O'Connor will autograph copies of his
book, U.S. Colored Troops at Andersonville Prison, at the National
Prisoner of War Museum. The book is a tribute to the soldiers who suffered
the hardships of prison life in one of the most notorious Civil War
prisons. The book includes a brief history of United States Colored Troops
(USCT) dating back to the Revolutionary War and a look at the establishment
of the Bureau of Colored Troops in 1863 by the War Department. The book
also examines the differences in the pay scale for colored troops versus
white troops, details of military actions that the troops were involved in,
and a list of USCT graves at Andersonville National Cemetery.
Although the living
history activities scheduled for March 13 and 14 have been cancelled, Mr.
O'Connor looks forward to greeting visitors at the National Prisoner of War
Museum and discussing his book. His book gives us a look into the long
history of African Americans soldiers in American history and the important
role they played. Copies of U.S. Colored Troops at Andersonville Prison
will be available for purchase during the event.
Eastern National is a 501(c)3 non-profit
cooperating association, operating in more than 150 national parks,
including Andersonville National Historic Site. Proceeds from the Eastern
National sales outlet at the National Prisoner of War Museum are donated to
the National Park Service to support educational and interpretive programs.
Andersonville National
Historic Site is located on Highway 49, ten miles north of Americus, Georgia
and eight miles south of Oglethorpe. Park grounds are open from 8:00 am
until 5:00 pm. The National Prisoner of War Museum opens at 8:30 am.
Admission is free. For more information on Mr. O'Connor's Book Signing
event, please contact Eastern National bookstore manager Renee Frye at
229-924-0343 x 204. For general information on Andersonville National
Historic Site, please visit our website at
www.nps.gov/ande
BOOK SIGNING FEATURES CIVIL WAR STORY OF
PRIVATE HIRAM TERMAN
On Saturday, February 20, 2010 Dr. Max Terman will be at Andersonville
National Historic Site to discuss his writings and sign his book Hiram's
Honor from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. The event will take place in the National
Prisoner of War Museum.
Hiram's Honor is a riveting first person account of the incredible
journey as the author traces the steps of his ancestor Private Hiram Terman
through a mind-numbing, brutal reality of the experience of a common Civil
War soldier. Private Terman served in the 82nd Ohio Volunteer
Infantry from 1861 to January 1865. The survivor of six major battles, he
was captured on the first day at Gettysburg and served as a prisoner of war
for more than 17 months at various prisons, from Belle Isle to Andersonville
Prison (Camp Sumter) to Savannah. Weaving together the facts and events of
a soldier's experience, the overwhelming sense of uncertainty that plagued
the prisoners of war, this author has created a "real life" personal
understanding of those who served and were captured.
The book includes wide range of characters to show the shady part of life in
the prison; a life where protection from fellow prisoners who preyed upon
the weakest and the most recent captives meant unending vigilance. In the
end the incredible support and friendship they had for each other conquered
adversity. This was truly "Hell on Earth" but determination, hope and
faith brought them through.
The author, Dr. Max Terman should be applauded for his exceptional
perception. A professor emeritus at Tabor College in Kansas he has
succeeded in bringing together a historical fiction as accurate as
possible. Ten years of research has paid off in a book that can be called a
dedication to his ancestor who took part in the greatest tragedy in American
history. Dr. Terman is the author of three other books and numerous
articles.
Andersonville
National Historic Site is located ten miles
south of Oglethorpe and 10 miles north of Americus on Hwy. 49.
Admission is free. Park grounds are open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please
call 229-924-0343 or visit on the web at
www.nps.gov/ande for information.
A CEMETERY TOUR WITH CLARA BARTON,
ANGEL OF ANDERSONVILLE
Andersonville National Historic Site is pleased to invite
the public for a Cemetery Tour with Clara Barton on Saturday, November 21,
2009 at 2:00 PM at Andersonville National Cemetery. The program will be
presented by Mary Ann Jung who for many years has given first person
presentations of Clara Barton.
Clara Barton is known for her work as a nurse during the
Civil War, becoming the first female to work for the Federal Government, and
enduring a nine year struggle to get America to join the International Red
Cross. However, her work at Andersonville Prison or Camp Sumter as it was
officially known, is even more intriguing. Barton was adamant that Union
soldiers who lost their lives during the war would be duly honored by having
appropriately marked graves. Along with former Andersonville prisoner of war Dorence Atwater, Clara Barton journeyed to Andersonville during the summer
of 1864 to begin the task of marking the final resting place of almost
13,000 Union soldiers.
This program is made possible by the Friends of
Andersonville and the Andersonville Trust. The Andersonville Trust supports
projects for the education and enhancement of Andersonville National
Historic Site. There is no charge for this event and is open to the public.
Andersonville National Historic Site is located on Highway 49, ten miles
north of Americus, Georgia.
From Arlington to Andersonville: Wreaths Across America
Wreaths Across America was founded in 1992 as an
extension of the Arlington Wreath Project, and is a non-profit
organization with the mission to Remember, Honor and Teach. The Arlington
Wreath Project was started by Morrill Worcester (Worcester Wreath) with
an initial donation of 5,000 Christmas wreaths being laid at gravesites at
Arlington National Cemetery. The Wreaths Across America program was
relatively obscure until 2005 when a photo of the gravesites adorned with
wreaths and covered in snow circulated on the Internet thereby receiving
national attention. Thousands of people from all over the nation forwarded
requests asking to emulate the Arlington project at their nearby National or
State cemeteries. Mr. Worcester was unable to donate thousands of wreaths to
each site, but conceived the idea of sending seven wreaths (one for each
branch of military as well as POW/MIA) to the designated locations. In 2006,
with the help of the Civil Air Patrol as well as other civic organizations,
over 150 locations simultaneously held wreath laying ceremonies. By the
following year, over 60,000 volunteers participated in laying 100,000
wreaths on veteran's graves while promoting the core mission of Wreaths
Across America of Remembering, Honoring and Teaching.
The Wreaths Across America organization has also
reached out to thousands of children with their message of Remember,
Honor and Teach while emphasizing the importance of honoring each
and every fallen serviceman. In 2008 the United States Congress authorized
the second Saturday in December as the official day of commemoration.
Wreaths Across America would be unsuccessful without the valuable
assistance of the volunteers, many active organizations, and the generosity
of the trucking industry.
If you, your family, organization or business is
interested in sponsoring a 20" Frasier Fir wreath with a red velveteen bow,
please contact your local florist to make these arrangements.
Andersonville National Cemetery will host the annual ceremony on December
12, 2009 at 11:00 AM. All wreaths must be delivered to the site on December
11, 2009 by 12:00 Noon.
If you or your organization would like to volunteer to
assist with the laying of these wreaths, please contact Volunteer
Coordinator Lindsey Phillips, Andersonville National Historic Site at (229)
924-0343 no later than December 1, 2009. For more information on
Andersonville National Historic Site, please visit our website at www.nps.gov/ande
Lieutenant colonel robert sweet
FEATURED
SPEAKER AT
ANDERSONVILLE
MEMORIAL
DAY OBSERVANCE
Lieutenant Colonel Robert J. Sweet,
deputy commander of the 23rd Fighter Group and former POW, will
be the featured speaker on Sunday, May 24 at the annual Memorial Day
observance at Andersonville National Historic Site.
Memorial Day activities will begin at
1:30 p.m. with instrumental music performed by the Albany Marine Band. The
program will follow at 2:00 p.m. and will include a Color Guard and a Rifle
Salute from Robins Air Force Base (Warner Robins, GA). The traditional
"laying of wreaths" will feature various military and other organizations.
Wreath presenters will be escorted by members of the Macon County High
School Navy JROTC. National Commander Jim Clark of the American
Ex-Prisoners of War will recognize all veterans in attendance.
Scout groups from across the state,
along with Junior Army ROTC from Macon and Dooley Counties will place
approximately 18,600 flags throughout Andersonville National Cemetery on
Saturday morning, May 23 beginning at 9:00 AM.
Robert J.
Sweet is the deputy commander of the 23rd Fighter Group, Moody AFB,
Georgia. In the absence of the group commander, he directs the flying
operations of the largest A-10C operations fighter group consisting of two
combat-ready fighter squadrons (the 74th and 75th Fighter Squadron), and an
operations support squadron (the 23rd Operations Support Squadron).
Lieutenant Colonel
Sweet was born in Chester, Pennsylvania, on 15
July 1966. He attended Parkersburg South High school in Parkersburg, West
Virginia, graduating in 1984. He then attended the United States Air Force
Academy from 1984 to 1988 and graduated with a B.S. in Electrical
Engineering. He completed Squadron Officer School in 1994 and Air Command
and Staff College in 2001. He earned a Master's Degree from Air Command and
Staff College and a Master's Degree from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical
University in 2002.
In 1991, while engaged with the 353rd
Tactical Fighter Squadron in Operation Desert Storm, Lieutenant Colonel
Sweet was shot down and became a Prisoner of War of the Iraqi's. He
distinguished himself by resisting his captors during his confinement and
was liberated.
Lieutenant Colonel
Sweet's assignments include but are not
limited to: Operations Officer, 49th Fighter
Training Squadron; Commander, 435th Fighter Training Squadron; Deputy
Commander, 479th Flying Training Group and Deputy Commander, 23rd Fighter
Group. He is a senior command pilot with more than 3,000 flying hours in
the A-10, OA-10, AT-38 and T-38C.
Lieutenant Colonel Sweet's personal
decorations include the Purple Heart, Defense
Meritorious Service Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal with three
Oak Leaf Clusters, Aerial Achievement Medal with six Oak Leaf Clusters,
Air Force Commendation Medal with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Army Achievement
Medal, POW Medal.
Andersonville National Historic Site is located ten miles north of Americus,
Georgia on Highway 49. Park grounds open at 8:00 a.m., the National
Prisoner of War Museum opens at 8:30 a.m. The park closes at 5:00 p.m. For
more information call 229-924-0343.