It was a beautiful fall day in Pall Mall, Tennessee with approximately 2,000 attending the celebration!
In honor of one of World War I’s most decorated heroes, Sergeant York Day was held at his homeplace and Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park in Pall Mall, Tennessee on October 18th, 2008. This was the 90th Anniversary Celebration of the famous WWI Battle in Châtel Chéhéry, France that awarded Sgt. York the highest decoration for valor from every allied nation.
The French Commander Marshal Foch presented him with the Croix de Guerre with palms, announcing, “What you did was the single greatest act of any soldier of the allied armies in the war.” Gen. John “Blackjack” Pershing, commander of the Allied Expeditionary Force, decorated York with the Distinguished Service Cross and the Congressional Medal of Honor calling him “the greatest civilian soldier of the war.” The British gave him the Victoria Cross.
As we remember the 90th anniversary of Cpl. Alvin C. York’s fight in the Argonne that brought him fame, we want to pay tribute to those men who fought along side him on October 8, 1918. York never said he acted alone, though overzealous reporters in the media said he “single-handedly” captured 132 German soldiers. His comrades fought bravely beside him and need to be remembered for their contributions to the fight. York’s best friend in Company G died that day. We lift these names up for posterity and hope that they will never be forgotten. York’s Fellow Soldiers in Company G/328 Infantry/82nd Division:
Sgt. Bernard Early (wounded), Sgt. Harry Parsons, Cpl. William Cutting (wounded), Cpl. Murray Savage (killed), Pvt. Percy Beardsley , Pvt. Patrick Donahue, Pvt. Maryan Dymowski (killed), Pvt. Thomas Johnson , Pvt. Joseph Knotski, Pvt. Mario Muzzi (wounded), Pvt. Feodor Sok, Pvt. Michael Saccina, Pvt. Carl Swanson, Pvt. Fred Wareing (killed), Pvt. Ralph Weiler (killed) , Pvt. George Wills, Pvt. William Wine (killed).
Fentress Courier (Sergeant York Day newspaper article)
Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation Newsletter
Schedule of Events
Tours of the original homeplace throughout the day. The general store and gristmill will be open for visiting.
Hiking tours at 11:00 and 2:00 (Ranger led 1 or 1.5 hour hike along the nature trail, Wolf River, gravesite, Bible school, Wolf River Methodist Church).
Kids Activities (turkey target shoot, kayaking, pick-up ducks, bean bag toss, horseshoes).
York family members will be on-site to welcome guests and sign books, tapes and souvenirs.
York Genealogy Database by Bruce E. York
10:30am Hull-York DAV Memorial Chapter #5 Color Guard Presentation,
Taps by Cheryl Crabtree in honor of fallen soldiers and those who served the United States of America,
Welcome by George Edward York & John B. Mullinix, Fentress County Executive,
Student Art Contest Winners Announced (displays inside the fire hall)
11:00am Allardt Cloggers
11:00am Hiking tour from the homeplace
11:30am Sgt. York Interpretive Program (Tennessee State Museum Interpreter in period attire)
12-1:30pm National Anthem by Taylor Gooding (York Agricultural Institute student),
York Agricultural Institute Color Guard Presentation,
VIP & Delegate Speeches:
John B. Mullinix-Fentress County Executive,
Tennessee Commissioner of Veterans Affairs-John A. Keys,
Hon. State Senator Tommy Kilby,
Hon. Rep. John Mark Windle,
John Robbins representing U.S. Congressman Lincoln Davis
Phil Brannon, Superintendent of York Institute
Introduction of Sergeant York’s biographer John Perry by Ivy Scarborough,
Major General (R) Jackie (Dan) Wood the 73rd Adjutant General of Tennessee. Appointed to the state's top military position by Governor Don Sundquist in 1995, he was responsible for the supervision of the Military Department of Tennessee that includes the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, and the Tennessee State Guard.
Dr. Michael Birdwell & Tom Nolan-scientific detection and historic evidence
Unveiling of Bronze Bust by Sam Barnes & 90th Anniversary Commemorative Case Knives
1:30pm Leonard Anderson (singer/song writer)
1:45pm Jamestown Community Choir
2:00pm Tommy Fryar (Christian Music)
2:00pm Hiking tour from the homeplace
2:30pm Jason Kerr (Christian Music)
3:00pm Rexroats (Gospel Music)
3:30pm Gene Allen Roysden (Gospel Music)
4:00pm Betsy Ross (York) Lowery & George Edward York (Gospel Music)
Special thanks to...
Rolling Thunder
York Agricultural Institute Color Guard
Cumberland County Young Marines
Tennessee State Wildlife Resources Game Warden Doug Lamb (turkey target shoot)
Fentress County 4H Club
City of Byrdstown (stage)
Millennium Sound-William Bilbrey
Tommy Burnett (tent)
Pall Mall Fire Department
Activity Hosts: Amedysis Home Health Care, Against the Flow
Wolf River Valley Growers (event decoration)
Student Art Contest: Community Bank, Union Bank, First Volunteer Bank, Dale Hollow Marketing Group, New York Life, Betsy Ross (York) Lowrey, Sue’s Friendly Drive-In, Coffee Time Café, Jamestown Sports Grill, Rim Riders, Wolf River Valley Growers, East Fork Stables, Lost Sea, Cumberland County Playhouse, Big South Fork Scenic Railway, Friends of Cordell Hull, Cedar Creek Cattle Company, Against the Flow, Pit Row Quality Quick Lube, Castle Cinemas, Dairy Queen of Jamestown, Midway Quick Stop, Henbos BP, Graphic Station/Unstudio Photography, Advance Image, Picture Perfect Photography, Technology Center, Doris King, Tracey Burnett, Thomas & Lisa Hill, Mark Hodgkins
Fentress County Student Art Contest
Judges, Patriotic Foundation members, and York family met at the General Store in Pall Mall to select the winners of the Fentress County student art contest. 230 illustrations were submitted depicting the legacy of Sgt York including the church, bible school, York Agricultural Institute, grist mill, homeplace, medals, Enfield 1917 rifle, wedding of Alvin and Gracie, turkey shoot and more.
On October 18, 2008 at the Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park, contest winners were announced and prizes awarded. All entries were displayed in the fire hall. Thank you for encouraging students to depict the legacy through art of our hometown and international hero!
K-2nd
1st place:
$100 savings bond from 1st Volunteer Bank,
$25 cash from Betsy Ross (York) Lowery,
Big South Fork Scenic Railway Cab Ride in the month of April 2009 (1 adult/1 child),
Studio photo package with gift basket by Picture Perfect Photography/Charlene Beaty,
5 Treat Cones from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
2nd place:
Big South Fork Scenic Railway 2009 season regular departures April-September (2 adults/2 children),
2 movie passes to Castle Cinemas,
5 Treat Cones from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
3rd place:
Big South Fork Scenic Railway Santa Express train ride in December 2008 (1 adult/1 child),
Friends of Cordell Hull hat & t-shirt,
5 Treat Cones from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
3rd-5th
1st place:
$100 savings bond from 1st Volunteer Bank,
Free photography sitting fee-location of choice by Advance Image/Cindy Smith,
2 Cumberland County Playhouse show tickets,
5 Treat Cones from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
2nd place:
$25 cash from Betsy Ross (York) Lowery,
2 Cumberland County Playhouse show tickets,
5 Treat Cones from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
3rd place:
$25 cash from Betsy Ross (York) Lowery
300 piece tub of Super Bubble Gum from Henbos BP,
4 movie passes to Castle Cinemas,
5 Treat Cones from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
Flower pot from Wolf River Valley Growers,
York t-shirt
6th-8th
1st place:
$100 cash from Sue’s Friendly Drive-In,
Lost Sea Family Pass,
Photo session at Sgt York Park by Unstudio Photography/Janet Hopson,
2 Cumberland County Playhouse show tickets,
2 12oz. Blizzards from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
2nd place:
1 night cabin stay at East Fork Stables,
$25 cash from Betsy Ross (York) Lowery,
2 Cumberland County Playhouse show tickets,
2 12oz. Blizzards from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
3rd place:
Dinner party for 8 at Jamestown Sports Grill,
2 movie passes to Castle Cinemas,
2 12oz. Blizzards from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
9th-12th
1st place:
2-4 hour kayak trip for 4 by Against the Flow,
4 Full Service Oil Changes at Pit Row,
$60 gas card from Midway Quick Stop,
$25 gift certificate to Rim Riders tack & gift shop,
2 Cumberland County Playhouse show tickets,
2 12oz. Blizzards from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
2nd place:
Half day horseback ride at Cedar Creek Cattle Co,
$60 gas card from Midway Quick Stop,
2 12oz. Blizzards from Dairy Queen of Jamestown,
York t-shirt
3rd place:
$50 gift card from New York Life/Andrea Burckhard,
$25 gift certificate for lunch or dinner at Coffee Time Café,
2 movie passes to Castle Cinemas,
York t-shirt
Special thanks to...
Community Bank-$500 commemorative t-shirts
Union Bank-$500 commemorative t-shirts
Mark Hodgkins, illustrator of the commemorative t-shirts
Dale Hollow Marketing Group-$300 event promotion
Midway Quick Stop-$25 commemorative t-shirts
Doris King-school lesson plan
Tracey Burnett-entry collection
Judges-Thomas Hill, Lisa Hill & Mark Hodgkins
Technology Center-contest distribution
|
