Remembering Andersonville on Memorial Day

Andersonville  - A History Lesson. 

For those of you unfamiliar with Andersonville, it was the most infamous Civil War Prison.  It is now home to the Andersonville National Historic Site and National Cemetery.

Following the end of the Civil War, the burying ground for Andersonville prison was designated a national cemetery on July 26, 1865.  The 12,920 men who died at the prison camp are buried in the cemetery.

Three years after the Civil War ended, on May 5, 1868, the head of the Grand Army of the Republic (GAR),   an organization of Union veterans, established Decoration Day as a time for the nation to decorate the graves of the war dead with flowers. Maj. Gen. John A. Logan declared that Decoration Day should be observed on May 30. It is believed that date was chosen because flowers would be in bloom all over the country.

In 1971, Memorial Day was declared a national holiday by an act of Congress and  placed on the last Monday in May.  It was at that time that Memorial Day was expanded to honor all those who have died in all American wars.

Since 1899 monuments and memorials have been placed at Andersonville to remember the men who suffered and died here, as well as American POWs from other conflicts.

Please click on the top photo and scroll through the monuments honoring our fallen American brothers and sisters.

Please take a few moments to honor the ultimate sacrifice made by these brave men and women. 

Wishing you a peace-filled Memorial Day.

Love,

Susan and Kim

Daytripping from Americus around Memorial Day

Memorial Day - A perfect time to visit Americus and Andersonville National Historic Site.

I had read that all 50 State flags would be raised at Andersonville National Historic Site

and decided to drive over to see them.

Unfortunately for me, there was not enough breeze to get photos of every flag flying.

However, I did get a few good shots.

The flags are around the perimeter of the parking area at the welcome center.

I wish I could have gotten a better look at all of the flags

because I definitely had never seen some of them before.

How many of them do you recognize?

I attempted to get every state represented.

Have you found your state flag?

Do you see any new ones for you?

If you watch The Big Bang Theory on television,

does this remind you of Sheldon and Amy

doing their "Fun With Flags" show?

I was thinking about that

the entire time I was attempting

to capture each and every state flag.

Along the road in the National Cemetery area,

they have raised the "Avenue of Flags"

comprised of 200 full size American flags.  It is really a sight to behold.

Thank you for allowing me to share the pre-Memorial Day commemoration  activities at Andersonville National Historic Site.  Wouldn't you love to see this for yourself in person?  We do have availability for Memorial Day weekend and would be happy to host your visit.

Hope to see you soon,

Love,

Susan