Before Lincoln, there was Andrew Johnson of TN—the only congressman from the Confederate States to remain loyal to the Union and the man later tasked to direct the readmission of the defeated southern states into the Union.

Born in Raleigh, NC, on 29 December 1808, Johnson rose from humble beginnings to become a respected local civic leader, state legislator, U.S. representative, senator, and Military Governor of TN, before his 1864 election as U.S. Vice President.

Two hundred years later, over 100 participated in a birthday salute at the Andrew Johnson Nat. Historic Site in Greeneville, TN. They were joined by JVCinC James Hanby, TN PDC Charles Engle, Br. Douglas Fidler, PhD, and Fort Donnelson Camp 62’s Br. Bill Heard.

In the Greeneville Towne Square parking lot, the Nat. Park Service pitched a large marquee. Union re-enactors served birthday cake, coffee, and lemonade to live music. At dusk, partygoers were transported to the foot of Monument Hill in the Andrew Johnson Nat. Cemetery, where 1500 luminary bags marked the way to the ceremony. At the summit, the tall, illuminated obelisk stood silent sentinel over the president and his beloved wife Eliza. The celebrants broke into a spontaneous chorus of “Happy Birthday.”

After the NPS Superintendent’s welcome and the NG Chaplain’s invocation, JVCinC Hanby offered his thanks and
congratulations for the outstanding tribute. Then the SUVCW was invited to lay a memorial wreath within the secure area surrounding the Johnson Family Tomb. The dignity of the occasion was punctuated by the “Presidential Salute”, a volley of 21 shots fired by the Greene Cty. Honor Guard, then solemnized by the playing of echo “Taps” and the singing of the “Star- Spangled Banner.” A spectacular fireworks display lit the night sky before the silent darkness lowered the shroud of time over the remains of the 17th U.S. president.