File:29. NPS Acting Regional Director to Supt. ANB & GNMP September 1, 1961 Page 1 (448bc5eb-1616-4b25-b005-01da2bf7a5d4).jpg

White paper with typed black text

In reply refer to: A8423 September 1, 1961 Memorandum To: Superintendents: Antietam, Gettysburg From: Acting Regional Director Subject: Speeches for Regional Director for Dedication of Georgia Monuments Due Date: September 13, 1961 You are requested to provide a draft of appropriate remarks to be used by the Regional Director on the occasion of the dedication of Georgia Monuments at Antietam and Gettysburg, September 20 and 21, respectively. Information available in this Office indicates that the Regional Director will perform the function of accepting the monuments on behalf of the National Park Service at both programs, and that the Governor of Georgia will be the principal speaker at both programs. If this is correct, then what is needed are speeches of acceptance no longer than 7 minutes. If our information on the programs is wrong, then the speech drafts should be adapted to the correct program format. Content of the speeches should cover such items as acknowledgement of distinguished guests and program participants, noteworthy operations of Georgia troops on each battle, an appreciation of the monuments and their symbolism, the appropriateness of these dedications during the Centennial, and a stiff plug relating to the National Park Service’s philosophy concerning the deeper meaning of the Civil War Centennial – dignity, commemoration of heroic and tragic events, the unity forged in way which is our strength today. Because the two dedication ceremonies will involve many of the same principals and quite likely much of the same audience, the two speeches – though covering much of the same substantive ground – should be different in form and approach. We, therefore, recommend that the individuals responsible for preparing these speeches in each park consult with one another to assure separate and distinct approaches in the two speeches.

• Keywords: Gettysburg; Gettysburg National Military Park; Photography; monuments; memorials; virtual experience; battlefield