African American History II

Decoration Day at Stones River National Cemetery Saturday, May 1st 2021

Date And Time

Sat, May 1, 2021

9:00 AM – 4:00 PM CDT

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Location

Stones River National Battlefield

3501 Old Nashville Highway

Murfreesboro, TN 37129

Register here: Decoration Day At Stones River National Cemetery

Remember the sacrifices of the Civil War and the promise of freedom that emerged from that conflict.

About this Event

RESERVATIONS 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.

While current public health guidance will keep us from gathering for a large event, we are inviting 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. In order to ensure group sizes remain small and allow for social distancing, we're asking the public to reserve a time slot and to park in the overflow lot located near the visitor center.

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.