2015 BLUE & GRAY REUNION AND FREEDOM JUBILLEE

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Hugh Thornton
5 years ago
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1 INTRODUCTION Historians and Civil War enthusiasts in Knoxville, Tennessee are gearing up for an eventful Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration scheduled for April 30 May 3, Local organizations are working with the State of Tennessee to create a wide range of programming that is sure to peak the interest of Civil War enthusiasts as well as all citizens with an interest in history. The Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission has hosted a commemorative event in a select city for each year of the Sesquicentennial. Knoxville is the chosen city for the last year of the Sesquicentennial, and the theme is Reconstruction Tennessee. East Tennessee played a major role politically after the Civil War with the Presidency of Andrew Johnson and the election of William Parson Brownlow as Governor of Tennessee in Knoxville hosted a Blue and Gray Reunion in 1890 and 1895, where veterans of the 1863 Battle of Fort Sanders returned to shake hands with comrades and former foes. It was a way of coming together and moving forward as a country, and it hosted a variety of activities including lectures, parades, and fireworks. Organizers are working to recreate certain aspects of that historic occasion that will dovetail with the State of Tennessee s activities. The official title for the local event is the Blue & Gray Reunion & Freedom Jubilee. In addition, African American men were mustered into the Union army in Knoxville in 1864, which resulted in the formation of the 1 st United States Colored Heavy Artillery. Plans are underway to highlight the history of these troops, and to tell the story of how local African Americans went on to become both businessmen and politicians. Together, Knoxville and the State of Tennessee will offer four days of programming where visitors can explore the themes of reconstruction, remembrance, and reconciliation. Visitors will have the opportunity to tour historic homes and cemeteries, visit the defensive forts that surrounded Knoxville, and learn more through local museums and special exhibits.

2 2015 BLUE & GRAY REUNION AND FREEDOM JUBILLEE OVERARCHING OBJECTIVES To present a balanced interpretation including Union, Confederate, Civilian, and African American perspectives with an overarching theme of Coming Together To present historically accurate information to the public and increase awareness of Knoxville and our region s Civil War History To bring new and returning visitors to Knoxville To work alongside regional partners To work with the State Sesquicentennial Commission to augment programming associated with the TN State Civil War Sesquicentennial Signature Event PRESENTING ORGANIZATIONS TENNESSEE STATE CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION o Purpose: The goal of the Commission is to educate the public, promote the commemoration, and preserve the lands and legacies of the Civil War, by engaging individuals and communities in an accurate and inclusive portrayal of Tennessee's contributions to the Civil War. During the multiyear commemoration, the Commission's goal is to bring about an understanding of the past to improve relations in the present and leave a lasting legacy for the future. Our mission is to lead a state effort to promote, fund and preserve the complete story of Tennessee's Civil War and its legacy. o Projects: 2015 Civil War Sesquicentennial: Reconstruction Tennessee, Looking Back Project, Lectures and Symposiums, Official State Commemorations o More info: o Committee Members: Lisa Oakley, Dr. Carroll Van West, Susan Whitaker, Ann Toplovich, Bill Radcliffe, Dr. Michael R. Bradley, Dr. Reavis Mitchell, Dr. Wayne Moore, Elaine Turner, Fred Prouty, Jeremy Harrell, Laura Holder, Lee Curtis, Lois Riggins-Ezzell, Mary Ann Peckham, Michael Grainger, Norman Hill, Patrice H. Glass, Patrick McIntyre, Rep. Steve McDaniel, Representative Joe Armstrong, Robert Hicks, Sen. Bill Ketron

3 KNOX COUNTY CIVIL WAR SESQUICENTENNIAL COMMISSION o Purpose: To serve as a clearinghouse for all Civil War committees with programming relative to the 2015 Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration. Welcome from the Knox County Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. Created through the East Tennessee Civil War Alliance to help facilitate the Sesquicentennial Commemoration. o Projects: Management of the Civil War Gateway, To help facilitate the 2015 Tennessee Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration o Committee Members: Bud Albers, Calvin Chappelle, Steve Cotham, Carol Evans, Cherel Henderson, Earl Hess, Jeff Mansour, Karen Peterman, Mary Whaley, Arlene Lynsky EAST TENNESSEE HISTORICAL SOCIETY o Purpose: To preserve, promote, and interpret the history of Tennessee, with a focus on East Tennessee. o Projects: Exhibitions, Looking Back Project, Facilitators of School Groups, Genealogical Research, Civil War Exposition, Peace Jubilee COMMITTEES & CIVIL WAR PARTNERS AFRICAN AMERICAN CIVIL WAR COMMITTEE o Purpose: To ensure a balanced interpretation of the Civil War as it pertains to local and national African American history. To educate the public about African American history especially as it pertains to the Civil War and the lives of African Americans in the era immediately following the Civil War. o Projects: 1 st United States Colored Heavy Artillery, Human Interest Stories (Cal Johnson, etc.), Roots Festival, Exhibits at Beck Cultural Exchange Center, Odd Fellows & Potters Field Cemeteries, etc. o Committee Members: Calvin Chappelle, Nkechi Ajanaku, Stephen Scruggs, Steve Dean, George Kemp, Kelsey Finch, Bob Booker

4 CEMETERY COMMITTEE o Purpose: To develop programming related to Civil War cemeteries for the 2015 Civil War Sesquicentennial Commemoration o Projects: Cemetery Bus Tours, Placement of Flags & Wreaths, Suggestions for Regional Cemeteries & Historical Societies, Creation of Cemetery Brochure, o Participating Cemeteries: Odd Fellows, Potters Field, Knoxville National Cemetery, Old Gray Cemetery, Jewish Cemetery, Bethel Cemetery, Lebanon-in-the-Forks Cemetery, Freemen s Mission Cemetery o Committee Members: Alix Dempster, Cherel Henderson, Calvin Chappelle, Allison Overcash, Doy Barron, Robert McGinnis, Stephen Scruggs, Bill Sachse, Mary Whaley STEERING COMMITTEE o Purpose: To guide the development of the Blue & Gray Reunion & Freedom Jubilee. o Committee Members: Aaron Astor, Cherel Henderson, Lisa Oakley, Steven Scruggs, Nkechi Ajanaku, Calvin Chappelle FUNDRAISING COMMITTEE o Purpose: To raise funds needed to facilitate the Blue & Gray Reunion & Freedom Jubilee. Approximately $100,000. o Committee Members: Steve Dean, David Madden, Aaron Astor, Cherel Henderson, Calvin Chappelle, Nkechi Ajanaku CIVIL WAR ROUNDTABLE o Purpose: The Knoxville Civil War Roundtable is a 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization dedicated to promoting the knowledge, commemoration, and preservation of our American Civil War heritage. o Projects: Programming at Fort Dickerson, Reenactment of William Sanders Funeral o Board Members: Dennis Urban, Tammie Burroughs, John Burkhart, Pat Jobe, Arlene Lynsky, Perry Hill, Jerry Patterson, Dot Kelly, Jerry Cross, Brian Burroughs, Cyndy Cox, Eric Wayland, Stan Sech, L.E. Reagan

5 EAST TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR ALLIANCE o Purpose: The East Tennessee Civil War Alliance (ETCWA) is a partnership-based, sustainable organization that preserves and promotes significant resources associated with a balanced and complete interpretation of the Civil War in Knoxville and the surrounding communities. The ETCWA serves as the fiscal agent for the Knox Area Civil War Sesquicentennial Commission. Our combined mission is to educate and inform all our citizens, young and old, about East Tennessee s unique Civil War experience with its rich visual and written documentation, and to identify, preserve, and promote the many places where that history occurred 150 years ago. o Projects: JOHN CULLOM EAST TENNESSEE CIVIL WAR PLAYWRITING CONTEST, Blue & Gray Reunion & Freedom Jubilee, Fiscal Agent of Sesquicentennial Commission o Members: Aaron Astor, Joan Markel, Lisa Oakley, Julie Jones, Teresa Brooks, Earl Jones, Scott Danforth, Smiley Clapp, Steve Dean, Dot Kelly, Calvin Chappelle, Alix Dempster, Arlene Lynsky, George Lane, Dave Jones, Earl Hess, Mike Brown, Steve Cotham, Lee Curtis, Dennis Urban, Nkechi Ajanaku, Stephen Scruggs, David Madden and others. PARADE COMMITTEE o Purpose: To coordinate a parade that will occur on Saturday, May 2 nd that will feature descendants, heritage groups, Union and Confederate reenactors, 1 st U.S.C.H.A., and Civil War era music. o Projects: Parade and Logistics o Members: Calvin Chappelle, Steve Dean, Cherel Henderson

2014 Events May 9 Petersburg Before the Siege May 10 From Slavery to Freedom May 15 Lecture: Soldier s Life Demonstration

2014 Events May 9 Petersburg Before the Siege May 10 From Slavery to Freedom May 15 Lecture: Soldier s Life Demonstration Please mark your calendars and plan to visit The Best PART of Virginia during 2014 for major Civil War Sesquicentennial events listed below. Continue to check PART s website for updates: www.petersburgarea.org.