Found this in the bulletin from Ancestry. Inc. (
http://www.ancestry.com/)
-- thought folks might be interested in this announcement if they had not
heard about it.
Bridgett
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Unsung Heroes At Last Honored at New Prisoner of War Museum
******
The following is a press release from the National Parks Service
regarding the dedication of the National Prisoner of War Museum at
Andersonville National Historic Site. The dedication of the museum is
on April 9.
******
(ANDERSONVILLE, GA.)--Of the estimated 800,000 American men and women
who have been held as prisoners of war
throughout the nation's history, about 56,000 are alive today. And many
of those former POWs are expected here April 9 for
the dedication of the National Prisoner of War Museum at Andersonville
National Historic Site.
For people like William Bearisto, of Waltham, Mass., a prisoner of the
Germans in World War II, it will be a particularly
poignant moment.
"You do not appreciate your freedom until it is taken away," said
Bearisto. "This museum will help people begin to understand
the sacrifices made by our veterans and the value of freedom in our
country."
His sentiments are echoed by William L. Fornes, a Korean War POW, now a
resident of Valdosta, Ga., who played a key
role in establishing the new museum. "To be born free is an accident,"
said Fornes. "To live free is a privilege, and to die free is a
responsibility. Andersonville is a fitting memorial to the spirit as
well as the experiences of all POWs."
The museum is located adjacent to an infamous Civil War prison on the
grounds of a national park site authorized by Congress
as a nation's grateful tribute to all U.S. men and women, civilian and
military, who have been POWs--from the American
Revolution to Desert Storm.
Many of the former POWs contributed or helped raise money to finance the
$5.8 million memorial. And one of their own--Arizona Senator and former
Vietnam POW John McCain--will be the featured speaker at the dedication
ceremony.
Fred Boyles, superintendent of Andersonville National Historic Site,
said the museum dedication may be one of the last
gatherings for some POWs from World War II and Korea.
"In 1982, more than 93,000 former POWs were still alive," said Boyles.
"Now that number is down to about 56,000. So this
national memorial takes on added significance to those veterans who are
nearing the end of their lives."
Sally Bateman Morgan, who was a child when she was captured with
missionaries by Japanese troops in the Philippines during
the second world war, said, "Andersonville will tell our story to a
world who needs to know what supposedly civilized people
can do to their fellow men, women and children."
Morgan, who now lives in Grand Prairie, Texas, added, "We are the
survivors and this museum is a testament to our survival."
Another German POW, Louis D. Guillory, of Bay St. Louis, Miss., noted
that the museum "leaves a legacy to our children and
grandchildren that the price of freedom is not free.
"I would not hesitate to do it all over again in order to preserve what
we have and to leave freedom to our families," Guillory
said.
Contact:
Fred Boyles @ 912-924-0343
Paul Winegar @ 404-562-3182
John Edwards @ 518-393-3907
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