Marie Harbour, regent of Chief John Ross, Pam McConnell, director of the DAR Cherokee district and Nancy Ward Chapter member, Marie Matthews, Chairperson State Regents Project, Brainerd Mission, Dr. Gandhi, James Carter, John Sevier Chapter SAR , Phyllis Carter , regent of the Judge David Campbell Chapter.
The Brainerd Mission Cemetery is a historic reminder of a time when an effort was made by settlers, Native Americans and slaves to come together in peace for the good of the community and the New Nation. Brainard Mission was a center of agricultural growth and learning. Children attended school, led by missionaries and adults learned additional skills to foster self sufficiency. The cemetery is all that is left of that time. The Cherokees were marched to Oklahoma, the missionaries followed. These were their people and family. The land went back to its natural state and “progress” erased the homes and school .
The cemtery remained, and is now a historic site owned by the five local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution.
On Thursday, members of the Chief John Ross Chapter, Chickamauga Chapter, Nancy Ward Chapter, Judge David Campbell Chapter and Moccasin Bend Chapter along with SAR John Sevier members, joined Missy Crutchfield, administrator of the city of Chattanooga Department of Education, Arts & Culture to tour the peaceful cemetery with Dr. Arun Gandhi, grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. There has not been a burial there in decades. It stands as a place solitude and reflection that helps to show that there can be positive things accomplished, even in times of strife.
Dr. Gandhi is touring for the Department of Education, Arts & Culture's "Gandhi Visits Chattanooga" and was warmly welcomed by the members of the different chapters.
Marie Matthews pointing out some of the features of the cemetery to Dr. Ghandhi