Memorial Day ceremonies planned at Andersonville National Historic site

ANDERSONVILLE – The Andersonville National Historic site is preparing for its annual Memorial Day Observance Ceremony on May 27 at 2 p.m. in memory of the horrors that transpired at Camp Sumter during the Civil War and to honor the servicemen and women who have died protecting this country.

“Memorial Day presents an opportunity to remember the military men and women who have sacrificed so much for our country,” Andersonville Superintendent Charles Sellars said. “Many have paid the highest price in service to our nation. It is our great privilege to pay tribute to them, particularly those resting in honor here at Andersonville National Cemetery, each year at this time.”

Andersonville is 10 miles northeast of Americus, nestled among rolling hills of pine and sassafras. The 26.5-acre historic park contains more than 21,000 graves of servicemen and women, including 13,714 Union POWs who died at Camp Sumter during the Civil War; 921 of which are marked “unknown.”

The site also contains a partial recreation of the stockade wall as it would have looked to the overcrowded prisoners housed there.

According to records, throughout 1864 and 1865, more than 45,000 Union soldiers were imprisoned at Camp Sumter. Over the course of 15 months, more than 13,000 soldiers died of disease, starvation and exposure, many of their bodies disposed of in mass graves.

Memorial Day commemoration activities at Andersonville kick off May 18 as volunteers from Robins Riders and park staff will raise the Avenue of Flags, lining the cemetery roads with more than 200 full-sized American flags and the National Prisoner of War Museum parking area with all 50 state flags.

On May 26, hundreds of scouts and other volunteers will add to the patriotic atmosphere by placing a small American flag on the more than 21,000 gravesites in Andersonville National Cemetery.

According to a park press release, “The dramatic and moving display of thousands of veterans’ graves decorated with American Flags, set against a backdrop of over 200 full-sized American Flags, will create a powerful and patriotic setting for our Memorial Day Observance Ceremony.”

On May 27, the U.S. Army Maneuver Center of Excellence Band will perform at 1:30 p.m. with the formal Memorial Day program beginning at 2 p.m.

The ceremony will feature a keynote address from Doug Livermore from the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence’s Sensitive Special Operations Division and wreath presentations by several military, civic and patriotic organizations, as well as a presentation of military honors including a rifle salute and more.

Livermore, was commissioned as an Infantry officer in 2004 and upon graduation from West Point, he served two tours in Iraq as a light infantry platoon leader, battalion assistant operations officer, and heavy weapons company executive officer with the 4th Battalion, 31st Infantry Regiment in the 2nd Brigade of the 10th Mountain Division (Light Infantry).

After returning from his second tour in Iraq, Livermore attended the Maneuver Captain Career Course before attending Special Forces Assessment and Selection. Over the next five years, Livermore commanded a mobility team, a specialty team, served as a combat-deployed Task Force future plans officer and finished his active duty tour as the special activities director. He currently serves as a contractor in the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence’s Sensitive Special Operations Division, where he oversees, integrates and advocates for special operations forces engaged in specialized activities around the world.

Finally, on May 28 at 11 a.m., the Knights of Columbus will hold a special mass in the cemetery. The public is invited to attend.

The park features the National Prisoner of War Museum, Andersonville National Cemetery and the site of the historic Civil War prison, Camp Sumter. Andersonville National Historic Site is the only national park within the National Park System to serve as a memorial to all American prisoners of war. Park grounds are open from 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. with the museum open from 9:30 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. Admission is free.

For more information on the park, call (229) 924-0343, visit on the web at www.nps.gov/ande/ or on Facebook at facebook.com/AndersonvilleNPS.