CONFEDERATE MEMORIAL FOREST REDEDICATED
Monday, July 23, 2001
Standing among 125,000 sturdy red spruce trees - an historic living memorial to North Carolina's Confederate veterans - descendants will rededicate the once-forgotten Confederate Memorial Forest during a ceremony August 11 along the Blue Ridge Parkway near Waynesville.
Scheduled for 10 a.m. at the Mt. Hardy Overlook, milepost marker 422, the service features the dedication of a new sign to mark the 125-acre forest where one 50-foot red spruce stands for each Tar Heel veteran. Members of the Sons of Confederate Veterans and United Daughters of the Confederacy planned the gathering where seedlings were planted about 60 years ago.
The Confederate Memorial Forest began in 1940 when the first trees were pushed into the rough mountain soil. The planting project continued for three years, when one large section of Pisgah National Forest was finally filled with memorials to the bravery and sacrifice of soldiers serving the Old North State. When finished, seedlings purchased by the UDC cost $625. An original ceremony to dedicate the memorial and a temporary marker was held in 1942, followed by another dedication ceremony for a permanent bronze marker 14 years later. Noted publisher and military leader Josephus Daniels delivered a keynote address that August, comparing the plight of North Carolina during postwar Reconstruction with nations losing their freedom to military rule in occupied Europe during World War II.
As seedlings became mature trees and their number multiplied, the view at the Mt. Hardy Overlook became obscured and the bronze sign was lost to timber growth and erosion. The memorial forest simply blended in with its surroundings, becoming forgotten even by longtime residents of the area. But that changed when Avery's Creek resident Jim Holbrook ran across an obscure reference to the living memorial in an old book.
"You can't imagine my surprise when I stumbled on a brief reference to the forest in an old book about the history and geography of western North Carolina," said Holbrook, who retired after 33 years working for the U.S. Forest Service. "I've spent most of my life in the mountain forests of North Carolina," he said, "but in all those years, I'd never heard of a Confederate memorial forest. The idea intrigued me and I set out to learn all I could about the history of the forest."
Using his knowledge of the area and local contacts, Holbrook slowly rediscovered the forest's intriguing history. Sharing his information with others, he gathered support for recognizing the memorial once again from political and governmental leaders, including Sen. Jesse Helms, R-N.C., who offered his assistance. For the last few months, a small committee drawn from the SCV and UDC worked with governmental officials to restore the commemorative marker and plan the rededication service where the first one was held 59 years ago. When the project is complete, the memory of North Carolina's veterans once again will be honored.
The public rededication ceremony includes a brief history of the forest, a salute fired by Confederate army re-enactors and remarks by Holbrook, who now leads the Zebulon Vance SCV Camp in Asheville. After the service, a reception will be held and guests can explore the forest.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans is a patriotic, historical and benevolent organization with members worldwide. The organization provides public service, promotes Southern history and conducts educational programs about the War Between the States. Working through its more than 3,500 members and 84 camps statewide, with seven more camps now being established, the North Carolina Division serves the state by providing memorial services and cemetery repair for Confederate veterans; educational presentations and academic scholarships for teachers and students; and historical publications and living history interpretations for the public.