Trail of Tears re-enactment ceremony at Port Royal State Historic Area

By Debbie Boen | October 17, 2007 |

Part of the Trail of Tears has never been paved over and lies in its original condition at Port Royal State Historic Area. In a reenactment ceremony Saturday Oct. 13th, Cherokee representatives and others walked a section of the Trail of Tears and then up to Port Royal State Historic Area where they met with State Park representatives, the Friends of Port Royal, and five highly decorated military veterans.

Visitors witnessed an exchange of flags, Cherokee for American; then all payed respects to each flag through the playing of “Colors” to raise the State and National flags and the playing of “Taps” while the Cherokee flag stood erect. It was a welcoming, honoring ceremony that is way overdue the Cherokee in our nation.Speakers, including Port Royal Conservation Worker, David Britton, and Tennessee State Park Resource Manager Jack Gilpin addressed the gathering.

Barely an eye was dry in remembrance of the sufferings of the Cherokee and other Indian nations during the Trail of Tears. Already integrated into white society, they were forced from their homes into the march that took 4,000 lives between Florida and Oklahoma. «Read the rest of this article»

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