Monument
$12,000,” said Melville. “As a committee, we decided to redesign in order to get the cost lowered and were able to get it down to around $4,000. All of which couldn’t have been done without Melea.”
Saturday morning started early with members of the GeorgiaDivision Re enactors Association setting up tents for their living history demonstrations, which gave visitors an opportunity to see into the lives of the soldiers of the 1860s. Men dressed as soldiers carrying rifles gave guests a sense of being a part of history.
Woman wearing large Southern Belle style dresses helped portray the women who waited at home for the soldiers to return.
“The re enactment team did an amazing job of helping guests feel like they had just stepped into the Civil War Era,” said an onlooker.
Part of this team was the 28th Georgia, 123rd New YorkVolunteer Infantry, a nonprofit organization founded in 1983, which is devoted to keeping history alive.
They are garrisoned in Resaca, but members come from different parts of North Georgia to participate. They appear in parades, memorial services and organize battle reenactments.
The main ceremony was opened with a benediction which was given by Samuel Allen, mayor of Resaca.
Songs and poems were shared by Jule Medders, Tennant and Lisa Sherwood and a dedication was presented by Padgett. The events came to a close with a guided tour of Fort Wayne being led by Tony Patton and refreshments being served by the United Daughters of the Confederacy Harriet Gold Chapter Number 2526 led by the groups president, Margaret Anderson, who is serving her second term in the position.
“The UDC organizes a memorial service in April, helps with printing programs for memorial services, and also does work within the veteran hospitals” said Anderson.
The placement of a monument was not an overnight task. “It has been over 70 years since a monument of this kind was placed in the state of Georgia,” said Melville. “This project was started over seven years ago and was worked on and made possible by a large team that included the city of Resaca, Gordon County Chamber of Commerce, Friends of Resaca Battlefield and local businesses like KOA Campground, Sharon’s Flowers, Pete’s Music City, Brian Auto Sales and Thomas Funeral Home.”
The committee that worked so tirelessly on this event is planning ahead with the construction of two more monuments. The first will be dedicated to the 123rd New York and the second to all of the Gordon County units that served during the Civil War.
“In addition to honoring those who gave all, we hope that by placing these monuments, we can get others to visit the area which in turn will help local businesses,” said Melville.
Anyone interested in getting involved with upcoming events should contact Dennis Melville at 678-767-8062 and anyone interested in membership with the United Daughters of the Confederacy Harriet Gold Chapter 2526 should contact Margaret Anderson at 706-625-1554.