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Special Event
Event
Forever Free - 160th Anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation
This event has already occurred. This page is provided for reference only.
Fee:
Free.Dates & Times
Date:
Sunday, January 1, 2023
Time:
10:00 AM
Duration:
5 hours
Type of Event
Performance
Description
The timing of the Battle of Stones River was driven by President Abraham Lincoln's desire to have a military victory to support the Emancipation Proclamation as it went into effect on New Year's day 1862. The Battle of Stones River proved to be that victory.
Join us and our partners in the African American Heritage Society of Rutherford County for a series of talks, living history programs and theatrical presentations commemorating the 160th anniversary of the proclamation taking effect and exploring the impact it had on the outcome and legacy of our Civil War.
PROGRAM SCHEDULE
10 AM - They Eye of the Storm: Join a ranger for a talk focused on the events of New Year's Day 1863 that shaped the Battle of Stones River.
11 AM - Forever Free: Read and discuss the text of the Emancipation Proclamation with a ranger and other participants as we try to analyze the many ways that document changed the course of the Civil War.
1 PM - Mr. Lincoln's Proclamation: President Abraham Lincoln will discuss his reasons for issuing the Emancipation Proclamation and his hopes for that document to change the focus of the Civil War.
1:30 PM - "We Are All Liberated": Volunteer, Kevin Greene, the great-great grandson of Frederick Douglass, will explore the reaction of the African American community to the Emancipation Proclamation through a speech Douglas delivered at the Cooper Institute on February 6, 1863.
2:00 PM - Fighting for Freedom: The Emancipation Proclamation opened the way for enslaved people to directly contribute to the war effort as members of the United States Colored Troops. Volunteer Gary Burke will share the story of his ancestor, Peter Bailey, who served in the 17th United States Colored Infantry.
2:30 PM - Commemorating the Past to Appreciate the Future: The African American Society of Rutherford County presents and artistic commemoration of the Emancipation Proclamation and its impact on our lives today.
Reservation or Registration: No
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