Marsha Blackburn: “I thank the gentleman from California for yielding the time. I do encourage my colleagues to support this legislation.…”

“I thank the gentleman from California for yielding the time. I do encourage my colleagues to support this legislation. Recently, National Geographic ranked this as the third best Civil War site to visit--the third best--and there is a reason for that. It is because of the dedication of the National Park Service personnel that are there at the Shiloh battlefield and the local volunteers from Tennessee and Mississippi that work to preserve and to enhance. Mrs. Torres was so right when she talked about the relevancy of the site and the opportunity for introspection and remembrance and the importance of preservation and the lessons that can be learned as individuals go and visit this park. It is significant, and in our Civil War history it is significant that we preserve this and work with the National Park Service. The Battle of Shiloh was fought on April 6 and 7 in 1862. It was the bloodiest battle of the Civil War up to that point: 23,000 Americans died. General Grant's Union Army was victorious. The Confederate forces withdrew to Corinth, and the outcome of the battle eventually led to the fall of Vicksburg in July of 1863. This permanently divided the Confederacy and crippled the Southern war effort. As we look at this legislation that goes around this battlefield, it does preserve the historical legacy of Tennessee, of Shiloh, and of our Nation.…”