Memorial Day

Monday we spent the day in Andersonville, GA. For lack of me being able to really explain it well, I am going to write what the basics are and give a link (hopefully). For those of you that are history buffs, you will love this. I'm not, but there our church had services there in honor of all those who served before and are still serving. It was really nice...really hot too. We thanked God often for the huge trees that we were able to seek refuge from the sun. Let me know what you think.
I have 3 more pictures that really show the prison camp better but they are not loading. I will try to post them tomorrow.

~Mrs. Peterson

Andersonville was one of the largest Confederate military prisons during the Civil War. It was built in 1864 after Confederate officials decided to move the large number of Fereal prisoners in Virginia, to a place with greater security. During the 14 months the prison existed, more than 45,000 prisoners were confined there. Of these, 13,000 died from disease, poor sanitation, malnutrition, and overcrowding, or exposure to the elements. The prison was originally on 16 acres and later expanded to 26 acres.

Andersonville National Historic Site consists of the National Prisoner of War Museum, the Andersonville National Cemetery, and the prison site itself. The park shows the grim life siffered by prisoners of war, North and South, during the Civil War. For more info here is the link www.nps.gov/ande

This is where the ceremony was held.

Peterson family melting in the hot Georgia sun.


This is just one portion of the cemetary. The headstones that are close together are of those that died in mass graves during the war, there is no body there due to the amount of people that died so quickly during the time the prison camp was active. The ones that are spaced are a, um, more normal grave. They have occupants (sorry couldn't think of a better term.) People can still be buryed here since it is a National cemetary.

One headstone of many that a name couldn't be placed with a body. He/she still got a marker though.