Friday, September 15, 2017

The Community Center of Abingdon launches a new campaign to Drive Away Hunger

NEWS ADVISORY                                      CONTACT: Nathalie Graham 276-628-3911
September 14, 2017                                    Director@thecommunitycenterofabingdon.com


The Community Center of Abingdon launches a new campaign to Drive Away Hunger

Abingdon, VA - On Monday, September 11th The Community Center of Abingdon (CCOA) launched a new campaign to raise awareness and funds for the only Meals on Wheels program operating in Abingdon and all of Washington County, Virginia. The new campaign is focused on raising the awareness of the availability of the program to all the disabled and 80% homebound citizens of these areas regardless of age. The Center is seeking additional funds to help meet the needs of these individuals during these trying times. More information is available at: https://thecommunitycenterofabingdon.com/ or https://www.facebook.com/thecommunitycenterofabingdon/
WHO: The Community Center of Abingdon Meals on Wheels program.

WHAT: Launches a new campaign Drive Away Hunger to help raise funds to continue the program.

WHERE: The Community Center of Abingdon, 300 Senior Dr., Abingdon, VA 24210.


WHEN: Critical and immediate relief needed to help maintain and operate the sole Meals on Wheels program for the entire Washington County, Virginia area. 


Tuesday, September 12, 2017

WREATH LAYING CEREMONIES

WREATH LAYING CEREMONIES
In recognition of General William Campbell and John Broady

In recognition of the service of General William Campbell and John Broady during the American Revolution, specifically at the Battle of Kings Mountain, two wreath laying ceremonies will take place on September 23, 2017.  The program will begin at 3:00 p.m. at the Broady Cemetery in Saltville, VA.  Participants and guests will then travel to the Aspenvale Cemetery in Seven Mile Ford where the program will continue at approximately 3:45 p.m.

In 1780, William Campbell was Colonel of the Washington County Virginia Militia and John Broady was his man-servant.  When a call was issued for militia to respond to British Major Patrick Ferguson’s threat that, “he would march his army over the mountains, hang their leaders, and lay their country waste with fire and sword,” men from all over the region moved into action.  Under the leadership of Colonel William Campbell, 400 Virginians set out to join patriot militia from modern-day Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.  After a two week campaign, the Overmountain Men fought the Battle of Kings Mountain with overwhelming success.  Thomas Jefferson said it was “the turn of the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War, with the seal of our independence”. 

Please join the Black’s Fort Chapter-Daughters of the American Revolution, Royal Oak Chapter-Daughters of the American Revolution, General William Campbell Chapter-Sons of the American Revolution, and the Overmountain Victory Trail Association as we celebrate the lives, achievements, and service of these remarkable patriots.

Directions to the Broady Cemetery from Interstate 81: Take exit 35 and turn onto Highway 107 from the exit ramp going toward Chilhowie.  Drive straight, north from Chilhowie to Saltville, on Highway 107.  Travel approximately 8 miles.  At the first traffic light, turn right onto Highway 91 North.  Go about a mile and turn left onto Battleground Avenue.  You will pass the Saltville Rescue Squad.  At the dead-end of Battleground Avenue, proceed down the dirt lane labeled Broady Cemetery.

Directions to Aspenvale Cemetery from Interstate 81: Take exit 39 and turn toward Seven Mile Ford.  Turn left onto Highway 11 South, Lee Highway, and then turn right onto Seven Mile Ford Road.  The cemetery will be on the right.  (for GPS purposes, use 303 Seven Mile Ford Road, 24354).
If you would like more information about this topic, please call 276-525-1050 or email lhunter@abingdon-va.gov.

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Tuesday, September 5, 2017

Celebrating the 237th Anniversary of the Muster in Abingdon and the Battle of Kings Mountain

OVERMOUNTAIN VICTORY CELEBRATION
Celebrating the 237th Anniversary of the Muster in Abingdon and the Battle of Kings Mountain

Hear ye!  Hear ye!  Overmountain Men and Living Historians will come to life at the Overmountain Victory Celebration, to be held September 23-24, 2017 at the Abingdon Muster Grounds.   This event will highlight the importance of the Washington County, Virginia militia and the Revolutionary War Battle of Kings Mountain, 1780.  Throughout the 9 acre park, there will be educational stations and demonstrations related to life in backcountry Virginia during colonial times.

On September 23, 2017 at 10:00 a.m., we will have a ribbon cutting ceremony, celebrating the completion of the Wolf Creek Stream Bank Restoration.  The restoration focused on the stretch of Wolf Creek which runs through the Abingdon Muster Grounds, a site which is owned by the Town of Abingdon and is certified by the National Park Service as the northern terminus of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.  This restoration project helped stabilize the stream bank, improve the hydrology, create habitat and re-introduce native species of plants and trees.  Now that the restoration is done, this section of Wolf Creek is a prime location to support the “Trout in the Classroom” program. Many partners came together to restore the Wolf Creek stream bank, including: Town of Abingdon Virginia, Mountain Empire Chapter-Trout Unlimited, Virginia Department Game and Inland Fisheries, Virginia Department of Forestry, Upper Tennessee Roundtable, National Park Service-Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, Carter Land and Water and the Virginia Chapter-Overmountain Victory Trail Association.

Living History stations will be open to the public from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. on September 23, 2017.  Visitors can walk the historic Muster Grounds and engage with historians portraying the Overmountain Men, backcountry women and children, Cherokee Peace Chief Attakullakulla, Timothy the Irish Linen maker, blacksmiths, redware pottery artisans, the Muster Grounds Musick Fife and Drum Corps, and much more!

The Overmountain Victory Trail Association (OVTA) will perform the story of the Overmountain Men and the Battle of Kings Mountain at 11:00 a.m. on September 23 and again at 10:00 a.m. on September 24, 2017.  After their presentation, the OVTA will begin their journey down the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, spending more than two weeks following the route of the Overmountain Men to the battle of Kings Mountain.  The OVTA will perform this story to over 10,000 people during the commemorative campaign.

This event has activities for the whole family!  Join the Overmountain Victory Trail Association, Blacks Fort Chapter-DAR, and General William Campbell Chapter-SAR as we bring history to life.


If you would like more information about this topic, please call 276-525-1050 or email lhunter@abingdon-va.gov

Certified by the National Park Service as the northern trailhead of the Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail, the Abingdon Muster Grounds is a picturesque 9-acre park with significant history.  When a call was issued for militia to respond to British Major Patrick Ferguson’s threat that, “he would march his army over the mountains, hang their leaders, and lay their country waste with fire and sword,” men from all over the region moved into action.  Under the leadership of Colonel William Campbell, 400 Virginians set out to join patriot militia from modern-day Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia.  After a two week campaign, the Overmountain Men fought the Battle of Kings Mountain with overwhelming success.  Thomas Jefferson said it was “the turn of the tide of success which terminated the Revolutionary War, with the seal of our independence”.  
The Keller Interpretive Center, located at the Abingdon Muster Grounds, houses southwest Virginia’s premier Revolutionary War exhibits.  Artifacts associated with backcountry Virginia and the Battle of Kings Mountain are on display.