This is a semi-annual post.
On October 7th, 1780, the American militia, led by 1100 Overmountain Men from what is today Tennessee, cornered the British at King’s Mountain, South Carolina. In the decisive battle that followed these men changed the course of the Southern campaign for American Independence. The Battle of King’s Mountain was led and fought by backwoodsmen, including the father of Davy Crockett and many of the earliest names in Tennessee history.
Sixty or so years later in a narrow valley, in 1840 and 1843, not far from where our farm is located, down a small gravel road, two of those heroes of the American Revolution were buried in a small church cemetery. The church is long gone. Only a hundred or so graves are found in this out of the way spot. This year, as we have done for close to twenty years, Cindy and I place flowers on the graves of Big Jim Campbell and William Moore to honor their memory.
My great-grandfather, who fought for the losing side in the Civil War, is buried in a small cemetery outside Alexandria, La. I’ve never been there, and there’s no family left in Louisiana to tend to it, but someone is keeping it in good repair – I’ve seen photos of it. Happy Fourth, Brian.
Caring for a cemetery, in our values hierarchy, should rank right up there with visiting a shut-in.
Good on you both for honoring these long gone souls. One day, when I was a young lad my Dad took me to the local cemetery to visit my grandparents graves and he asked me, “Do you know what this place is?” I answered, “It’s Bayside Cemetery.” “No” he responded, “It’s called the Great Equalizer, everybody is the same here.” I never forgot that.
Ain’t it just that, Don.
WHAT a reverential and thoughtful thing to do! LOVE IT!!