Volunteers help preserve civil war history at Parkers Crossroads
HENDERSON COUNTY, Tenn. – Volunteers are rolling up their sleeves to help preserve a piece of Civil War history at Parkers Crossroads.
The Parkers Crossroads Battlefield Association, in partnership with the American Battlefield Trust, hosted its annual Park Day Saturday at the state-owned Parkers Crossroads Battlefield.
The day began with a brief historical overview of the Battle of Parkers Crossroads, fought on December 31, 1862. After learning about the history of the site, volunteers headed out across the grounds for several hours of cleanup and preservation work.
Participants helped with garden maintenance, trash and leaf removal, and cleaning historical markers throughout the battlefield. Scout troops also took part in the effort, providing much-needed extra hands.
“They are a real blessing to us to have the scout troops come out and help us. Because we just don’t have enough manpower to take care of everything we want to take care of in one day,” said Keith Doll, president of the Parkers Crossroads Battlefield Association. “We’ve set aside an area that is for camping, so they can come and camp by letting us know in advance so we can prepare things for them, and we just appreciate their assistance so much.”
Every volunteer received an official Park Day bandana, and organizers said the hours can count toward community service requirements for students and others who need documented volunteer time.
