Alvin C. York State Historic Park hosting a Jubilee Saturday to celebrate the 250th birthday through the legacy of one of Tennessee’s most famous military figures.
Park Manager Nate Dodson said the staff felt it was important to create an event surrounding the story of Sergeant York that provides activities for visitors. Dodson said the celebration highlights York’s patriotism.
“If you think of the past 250 years, he certainly stands out in the World War One era, but he’s also, you know, very well known because of the film with Gary Cooper that comes out in the 40s, that’s during World War Two, so it inspires a lot of GIs as they’re going overseas.”
Dodson said the event allows visitors to place themselves within 250 years of history by exploring the world York lived in during the early 1900s.
Dodson said the park will hold an open house at the York home from 9:30am to 3:30pm. featuring interpreters and members of the York family. Dodson said the schedule includes specialty tours of the grist mill, a driving tour of significant sites in the valley, and guided walks through a replica World War One trench.
Dodson said the visitor center will host a presentation titled “Sergeant in the Spotlight” at 11am and 1pm to discuss the historical accuracy of the Gary Cooper film. Dodson said the park also arranged for schoolyard games to be played in the backyard of the home throughout the day.
“He was famous for saying in World War Two that there was a lease on liberty and that the lease had come up for payment again,” Dodson said. “So he felt like, you know, each generation did tend to have a war that they had to fight and each generation had to serve or be called to serve. And so he just felt like it was a big part of, you know, being an American is preserving that liberty.”
