Cannons blast off at Shiloh in honor of Independence Day

SHILOH, Tenn. — In honor of the Fourth of July, Shiloh National Military Park presented “Keeping Freedom.”

This occasion remembers the Civil War and the birth of a new nation.

“Today we’ve just been doing artillery demonstrations,” said T.J. Jones, Shiloh volunteer. “Demonstrating people how Civil artillery worked and everything that went into Civil War artillery. The different projectiles that were fired and things like that.”

Each demonstration lasts 20 minutes, and the goal is to teach others how to interpret the heritage of how they prepared for battle.

“It’s always great to teach, because you can’t ever learn enough, especially with history,” Jones said.

This is a time to look back on moments in history to remember how far the nation has came, and to embrace the freedom that is celebrated on Independence Day.

“It’s a way to honor, you know, our ancestors that came before us,” Jones said. “With this being the Fourth of July weekend, the birthday of our country, it’s a great way to honor that by shooting a canon.”

They fire the canons two times per demonstration for individuals to get the full experience. If you missed this program, you can catch it again on August 24 and on Labor Day.

You can always stop by the park’s visitor center during their normal operating hours, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. throughout the week.

All programs are free and open to the public.

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