DUANE SHERRILLEditor

When it comes to planning the 250^th Independence Day celebration, you best not forget about the Daughters of the American Revolution as they have already begun laying plans for the big celebration.

Mary Anne Scott, of the DAR and the America 250 Committee, appeared before the Tullahoma Board of Mayor and Alderman on Sept. 8 to tell them that they are ready to pitch in.

“I commend Alderman Glick for recognizing the need to plan for our 250^th birthday for the signing of the Declaration of Independence,” she said, noting the DAR has been planning for several years and that the local chapter has been doing some active planning. “Earlier this year we had a moving ceremony erecting a plaque in memory of a Revolutionary War soldier that is buried in Oakwood Cemetery.”

Scott pointed out that the areas of interest in the 250^th celebration in Tullahoma included the Civil War, World War II and the Cold War and Space Race as those historically had the biggest impact locally. However, she said something is missing.

“Where is our idea of honoring the revolutionary war patriots,” she asked while acknowledging that Tennessee was not yet a state at the time of national independence. “Many of the veterans of the Revolutionary War were some of the early patriots who settled here and across the state.”

She suggested the city should erect a monument or at least post a plaque in the downtown park, honoring revolutionary patriots. She also said she has heard South Jackson Performing Arts Center plans to do the play 1776 which could serve as a reenactment.

Scott said the DAR would like to help with the local plans. Alderman Glick noted that he had floated the plans recently in order to rally support for the celebration.