The Battle of Collierville

The reason to establish a Civil War Interpretive Center is not just to preserve our history but to honor the veterans of all American wars.  

I receive a newspaper called the “Air Force Times” every two weeks. In every issue they had the names and pictures of the latest war casualties. It was heartbreaking to see 15 or 20 pictures of young people who had given their lives for this country in every issue. Our military services had the equivalent of a Virginia Tech massacre every month. We are fighting a global war on terrorism that strikes at the core of who we are.  The situation in Iraq is remarkably similar to what our country went through in the Civil War.  They are in a life and death struggle trying to create a representative democracy in an area of the world that has been riddled with dictators. Our American Revolution was a repudiation of this style of government and the Civil War was the test of its viability.  We miraculously survived and I believe it was due to God's direct intervention.  It is important to bring up in public consciousness the miraculous ways God has worked with our country, and with our people, to show there is hope for the rest of the world.  If we neglect our own history Collierville is forgetting what is important in our country.  It is important to see a National Historic Site established on what remains of the Civil War battlefield in Collierville.  There is support in the community for this goal. It would be a tribute to the men and women who serve in the military today to know that they serve a country that does not forget the sacrifice of those who fought and died for the cause of freedom. They should have the hope that in a hundred and fifty years from now they will not be forgotten. 

John Weeks