Birchwood Tennessee Society DAR Regen Nancy Hemmrich attended. The ritual was led by Alexander Keith Chapter Regent Mary Ellen Nolletti followed by the Pledge of Allegiance to the American Flag and the Tennessee Flag.
Susie Dailey read the American Creed and Helen Riden read the Preamble. Peggie Hall, hostess for the event, spoke and introduced Hemmrich and presented the book, “Forgotten Patriots,” to her. Hall presented a book about Cherokees to Hemmrich.
Shirley Lawrence spoke of Cherokee history and how, in the future, a seven-star monument will list the names of those Cherokee heads of household. She also said this is in no way a complete list, giving an example of her own family not being on the list and she and family members know of their native American ancestor. After a bag lunch, beverage and dessert, the group was divided into two groups — one going to the location of the former ferry and told of how the Cherokees came to location by wagon — 60 wagons for those gathered in Charleston
Hall did a marvelous job describing just how those native Americans might have felt such fear of the unknown.
Those attending were invited to throw flowers into the water in memory of the move west.
Then the groups changed locations. Behind the Cherokee Removal Park building is a partial unpaved road leading to the hilltop where there is a walkway — handicapped accessible — to the hilltop and a view of where the Hiwassee and Tennessee rivers merge.
