Decoration Day at Stones River National Cemetery

3501 Old Nashville Highway,Murfreesboro TN 37129

07 May, 2022

Description

Remember the sacrifices of the Civil War and the promise of freedom that emerged from that conflict. REGISTRATION REQUIRED On May 1st 1865 thousands of formerly enslaved people marched to a Union cemetery near Charleston, South Carolina. The marchers laid fresh-cut flowers at the graves, sang songs and celebrated their freedom, purchased at such a great cost during the Civil War. In the years following the end of the war, African American communities, such as the Cemetery Community that emerged on the Stones River battlefield after the war, continued to celebrate their freedom and honor the sacrifices that made it possible on Decoration Day. We invite members of our community to follow in the footsteps of those that called Cemetery home and place flowers at the graves in Stones River National Cemetery. We ask that volunteers register for one of the hourly cohorts so we can ensure adequate parking and room for maintaining a safe distance from others to all participants. The African American Heritage Society of Rutherford County and the Friends of Stones River National Battlefield will provide a limited amount of flowers for placement. We're asking all volunteers to consider bringing a small bunch of flowers. By working together we can ensure that every one of the more than 7,100 headstones is adorned by a flower.