News Release
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Contact: Benjamin Hayes, 615-893-9501
Contact: Jim Lewis, 615-893-9501
Murfreesboro, Tenn. — As the nation approaches its 250th birthday in 2026, Stones River National Battlefield and Stones River National Cemetery are launching a new public history initiative to honor the men and women who served the United States and are buried in the national cemetery.
Titled “Stories of Service and Sacrifice”, the campaign will share 250 individual stories of veterans interred at Stones River National Cemetery in commemoration of America 250.
Beginning in January, the park will publish veteran profiles on the National Park Service website and share one story each day on social media, highlighting service members from conflicts spanning more than 160 years of American history. Together, these stories illustrate the enduring connection between national cemeteries, military service, family history, and our shared national story.
“National cemeteries are more than places of remembrance, they are repositories of our nation’s history,” said Ben Hayes, superintendent of Stones River National Battlefield. “Each headstone marks a life of service and a personal story that connects families, communities, and generations. By sharing these stories, we honor those who served and invite the public to see themselves in America’s ongoing story.”
The park is also inviting families, descendants, and community members with loved ones buried in Stones River National Cemetery to participate. The public is encouraged to share photographs, letters, documents, and personal memories to help tell these stories, update and add to park records, and preserve them for future generations.
Submissions may be featured on the NPS website, social media platforms, and in future interpretive programming related to America 250 and beyond.
To learn more about the project or to submit a story, visit go.nps.gov/sacrifice and email e-mail us.
Last updated: January 6, 2026