Centennial celebration
Posted on Saturday, August 9, 2008
BENTONVILLE - Johnny Haney, organizer of Friday's program commemorating the 100 th anniversary of the Confederate statue on the Bentonville Square, welcomed almost 100 people to the event. A brass plaque dedicating the statue in honor of Confederate soldier and statesman, governor and U. S. senator James H. Berry is adhered to the 25-foot-tall monument.
Held in the Wal-Mart Room at the Bentonville Public Library, the invocation was given by Dr. Ben G. Hines, retired pastor of the First United Methodist Church here. A century ago at the dedication of the monument, the invocation was given by the Rev. R. E. L. Bearden.
"Although I've been around a long time," Hines explained," I was not at the original dedication. Pastor Bearden, however, was my sponsoring minister when I answered God's call to enter the ministry. I knew him for years and years."
Special guests attending the ceremony included three women from across Arkansas, each members of the United Daughters of the Confederacy: Dora Kate Lee of Batesville, Arkansas Division president; Mary Miller, also of Batesville; and Gwen Truesdail of Heber Springs.
Monte Harris, president of the United Daughters of the Confederacy James H. Berry Chapter and fifth-generation Bentonville resident, explained that the Berry Chapter essentially faded away during the 1950 s.
"In 2005," Harris said," some of us realized how important it was. We were granted a new chapter, and the James H. Berry Chapter 821 vows to continue to serve."
Pea Ridge National Military Park Superintendent John Scott spoke about the importance of recognizing this centennial.
"At the end of it, there were 640, 000 Union and Confederate soldiers and 80, 000 pro-Union and pro-Secessionists dead," Scott said. "And they were all Americans. I think the legacy of the Civil War is the end of slavery, the restructuring of the Union and the birth of civil rights."
Mark Christ of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program said that since 1992, thousands of monuments have been documented around the state. He said, too, that women members of the Southern Memorial Association found the dead and brought them together to rest on common ground.
"One such place - I think the most beautiful cemetery anywhere - is in Fayetteville," Christ said. "Congratulations on the 100 th anniversary of the monument, and we look forward to working with you on the sesquicentennial in 2011. "
Author, historian and James H. Berry biographer Travis Ayres entertained the audience with documented recollections of the dedication. Along with several memories, some humorous, others poignant, Ayres told the story apparently told years ago by a Rogers newspaper reporter at the dedication "During the ceremonies of the unveiling, a small American flag was accidentally knocked down and as the speaker stooped to restore it to its proper place, he said: ' We tried our best to pull that flag down but couldn't - and by the eternal no one else ever shall. ' There was no sorrowing over defeat in the address; only regrets for the thousands of brave men who had met their death during the terrible four years of strife and warfare."
Ayres'biography of Berry is scheduled to be published within a year or two. Ayres was instrumental in planning the centennial program. A greatgrandson of Berry, retired professor of history Paige Mulhollan mentioned that his great-grandfather earned a reputation of honesty and integrity.
"It's an honor to be here today as you celebrate the Confederate soldier's centennial and remember my greatgrandfather, James H. Berry," Mulhollan explained.
Following Bentonville Mayor Bob McCaslin's proclamation in honor of the Confederate soldier centennial celebration, Berry's great-greatgrandson Kelly Mulhollan and his wife, Donna Stjerna, delighted the audience with a performance of a song they wrote about the impressive achievements of James H. Berry.
Haney closed the program by thanking several people involved in producing the event.
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