Although the corresponding events are named for celebrating the Confederate Memorial Day, both Union and Southern soldiers were recognized along with veterans and active military for all wars.
Continuing their tradition established in 1992, the Stiles-Akin Camp of the Sons of Confederate Veterans held a ceremony at the Cassville cemetery. A wreath laying, and a rifle and cannon salute enhanced the occasion as Jerry Maddox spoke to honor the lives of soldiers and Gen. Collett Leventhorp. Maddox is a descendant of the Erwin family of Cartersville and distantly related to Leventhorp.
Dressed in time period attire and soldier uniforms, re-enactors fired rifles and a cannon in Cassville. Speaking on the significance of the area, Ann Jones of the United Daughters of the Confederacy commented that many homes were converted into hospitals to treat wounded soldiers.
"Although the sign says there are 300 unidentified soldiers buried here, that is not true. Over 200 are identified," Robert Crowe, commander of the Stiles Akin camp stated of the cemetery. "Most of these guys here came to hospitals in Cassville because of the Chickamauga battle, so they were put on the railroad and brought to Cass Station," Crowe continued to say. The Cassville Ladies Memorial Association held a grave decoration in 1868, the oldest decoration day on record for the Cassville area. "These memorial services are things that we do here to honor these men," Crowe said.
Kingston hosted its 147th Confederate Memorial Service Sunday in the Baptist church, continuing the longest running service in the nation. Mayor Dexter Jones in his address to the group asked everyone to support the Kingston Woman's History Club. "I am so proud of them because this is so beautiful," Jones said as he described the women's "truly noble" cause in carrying on the tradition of honoring fallen soldiers.
Events celebrating the vibrant history of the Civil War will continue throughout the month as April is Confederate History Month.