MEMORIAL DAY COMMEMORATIVE EVENTS
PLANNED FOR SHILOH NATIONAL MILITARY PARK

Shiloh National Military Park will offer several special Memorial Day events, culminating in the Memorial Service at Shiloh National Cemetery at 11:00 a.m., Monday, May 30th, 2005, Superintendent Woody Harrell announced today. The observance at Shiloh National Cemetery is one of the oldest Memorial Day events in West Tennessee. The principal address for this year's ceremony will be delivered by Brigadier General David E. Greer, Assistant Adjutant General - Tennessee Army National Guard.

"We invite all citizens to set aside a few moments to reflect upon the sacrifices made by our armed forces, from the birth of our nation up until today. Their sacrifices should never go unnoticed, nor be forgotten. Our troops give up the comforts of home, the embrace of family members, and the many benefits we take for granted, to defend the cause of freedom, not only for our citizens, but around the world. Unafraid to face life threatening situations in far away lands, they willingly accept the necessity to place themselves in harm's way to protect our freedoms, and make a stand for America's basic beliefs. Without these unselfish heroes throughout our history, we would not be the great country we are today. Let us remember these brave men and women on their special day," Harrell stated.

The weekend of special events and commemorative activities will start on Saturday, May 28th and continue through the afternoon on Monday, May 30th. From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday costumed interpreters will present programs on the front lawn of the Shiloh Visitor Center. These living historians will interpret the many wars in which the United States citizens have been involved, including the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Mexican War, Civil War, Spanish-American War, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, and the recent wars in Iraq.

Participants including both National Park Service employees and volunteers, will highlight the soldiers of those wars, discussing the campaigns, battles, uniforms, weapons, and the American soldier from the war they are representing. There will be a live firing of the strikingly different shoulder firearms available from the different wars each day at 11:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m. "We offer this type of interpretive opportunity so the American public may visit with individuals who possess in-depth knowledge of each of these costly wars, and try to gain an educational link to the past. We understand only a soldier who has actually been in combat can truly relate to other people what they experienced. However, through letters and descriptive accounts these interpreters will be able to offer the American public a glimpse into the sometimes bloody, confusing, and life threatening lives of our armed forces. On this unique observance, let us remember our brave troops who are still sacrificing their lives in the name of freedom, and also the families who have lost fathers, husbands, sons, and daughters in the defense of our great nation," stated Harrell.

On Monday morning, May 30th, the National Park Service will sponsor the annual memorial service at Shiloh National Cemetery. This year's observance will be preceded by the Savannah Dixieland Band performing at 10:30 a.m. The Nixon First Pentecostal Church Choir, directed by Ms. Jennifer Briley, will sing the National Anthem, and the hymns of the different branches of the American military service. Reverend Phil Mitchell, First Baptist Church Adamsville, Tennessee, will present the Invocation and Benediction. Students of the Adamsville High School International Thespian Society will perform dramatic readings of actual letters written by American soldiers. The dramatic readings will be directed by Mrs. Martha Marshall. Mrs. Rhonda Lambert, Stantonville, Tennessee, will perform the patriotic song "God Bless the USA." The Hardin County Civil Air Patrol will provide the Color Guard for the ceremony, and Boy Scout Troop #234 from Adamsville, Tennessee will distribute American flags to children attending the service.

American soldier veterans Mr. Kenneth Ray Perkins, Mr. William Butler, Colonel Roger Hill (Retired) will represent the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the American Legion, Prisoners of War, and the Disabled American Veterans, and lead the audience in the pledge to the flag.

An honorary salute will be provided by National Park Service employees and volunteers wearing period uniforms and equipment, utilizing a variety of historic firearms to represent the 229 years of military service the armed forces of the United States have provided since 1776. The playing of "Taps" will be performed by Dr. Jerry Rogers.

A wreath will be placed upon a grave of an unknown soldier by Miss Macayla Jordan Dabbs, daughter of Petty Officer Richard Allen Dabbs, who will be memorialized during the ceremony and in a special temporary exhibit in the Shiloh Visitor Center throughout the Memorial Day weekend. The exhibit will focus on Petty Officer Dabbs, who served in the Persian Gulf War and was later killed in an aircraft accident over the Pacific Ocean. Although Petty Officer Dabbs's body was never recovered, his memorial stone now stands in Shiloh National Cemetery.

Superintendent Harrell announced the park is extremely honored to have retired Brigadier General David E. Greer, Assistant Adjutant General - Tennessee Army National Guard, to provide the keynote address for this year's service. Brigadier General Greer is a native of Tennessee, having graduated from the University of Tennessee in 1972 with a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration. Graduating from the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program, Greer became a second lieutenant in the United States Army. Brigadier General Greer has held a number of staff and command positions throughout his career, and is a graduate of numerous military schools and courses, including the United States Army Command and General Staff College and the United States Army War College. He also has a Master of Arts in Public Administration from the University of Memphis. He has been awarded numerous decorations throughout his career, including the Legion of Merit and Meritorious Service Medal, and currently serves as the Assistant Adjutant General for the Military Department, State of Tennessee. Brigadier General Greer is married to the former Vera C. Sherrod of Knoxville, Tennessee. They have one daughter, Kathryn. Greer also has a special connection with Shiloh: his great-grandfather, Lemuel A. Scarbrough, was wounded and taken prisoner during the battle.

Also scheduled at the Visitor Center, immediately following the memorial service at the National Cemetery, two local military service veterans will be on hand to share their armed forces experiences and display service memorabilia in the program ---- "Spotlight on America's Veterans", from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. The public is invited to visit with veterans William Butler who served in World War II from Savannah, Tennessee, and James Minor who served in Vietnam from Ripley, Mississippi.

Shiloh Park Rangers will present a series of interpretive programs on Monday afternoon:

1:30 p.m. -- Infantry: Backbone of the Army - A Park Ranger dressed in period Civil War uniform describes the experiences of the common soldier, and concludes with a rifled-musket firing demonstration.

2:00 p.m. -- Garden of Stone: Shiloh National Cemetery - Program includes a 200 yard walking tour through peaceful Shiloh National Cemetery interpreting features and stories associated with the soldiers interred.

3:00 p.m. -- Infantry: Backbone of the Army -- (See above description).

3:30 p.m. -- Garden of Stone: Shiloh National Cemetery -- (See above description).

4:00 p.m. -- Why Shiloh? Pittsburg Landing -- Program features a 400 yard walk to the original site of Pittsburg Landing, describing the course of events leading up to the momentous two day battle and why it occurred at Shiloh.

Directly following the Memorial Day observance in Shiloh National Cemetery, the park will host a short program at Tour Stop #5, which is the site of the park's largest Confederate burial trench. The program will commemorate the Confederate soldiers who participated in the Battle of Shiloh. The program will include a guest speaker, and wreathlaying. The public is invited to attend this program after the observance in the National Cemetery.

Superintendent Harrell also added the National Park Service will participate in the "The National Moment of Remembrance." "All Americans have been asked by President George Bush to take a moment to pause at 3:00 p.m., May 30, 2005, and spend a minute in silence to honor those who have fallen for America. If driving, and are unable to take a moment of silence, Americans are asked to turn on their vehicle's headlights. In this small way United States citizens can reflect on the memory of those who have died for our freedom, both in the past, and those currently deployed in harms way. Please join citizens everywhere on Memorial Day in this act of national unity."

"We as Americans are so fortunate to have the freedoms this great nation provides. Let us all pause just for a moment to think of the veterans who gave the ultimate sacrifice, and to think of all the men and women who never came home. These heroes stood in harm's way so their families, and the American people as a whole, could live as a free people.

We encourage the public to bring lawn chairs and blankets for comfortable seating and to participate in the Memorial Day commemorative events at Shiloh National Military Park," stated Harrell. The park's visitor center, museum, and bookstore will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. For additional information, contact park rangers at Shiloh National Military Park by calling (731) 689-5696.