Monument dedicated to America's youngest veterans

ELIZABETHTON — There is new addition to Mack and Nancy Cooke Park, a small park lying between the Tweetsie Trail on the south and Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park on the north. That new addition was the center of attention for many people in Elizabethton and the region on Saturday afternoon. It is a granite monument that was dedicated during the afternoon to the nation's forgotten veterans. Forgotten veteran is a term which has been used for different groups over the years, but the term may not be precise, as Ivan Daniels admitted during his speech. It is not precise because many people did not forget that there were many children serving in the ranks of the American army in the Revolutionary War. He said he has attended many commemorative events on the Revolutionary War over the years and "never did we hear the announcers say 'the men, women and children who served.'" He said the reason that was not heard was because people did not know the extent to which children served in the army in the 18th century. He told the audience that many children served in the fife and drum corps of units. He said that was not just a musical organization, it was a way that orders were relayed through the ranks. There were many other boys who served in the ranks at young ages. "Because they were so young, many of their stories were not recorded and their names have been lost to history." Even so, through his research and the work of others in recent years, there are now over 200 known children in 12 of the 13 original states who served in the army during the war, some for five or more years. Daniels resolved to make sure the service of the child veterans was not forgotten. He became president of the Tennessee Society Children of the American Revolution in 2022-23. The results of his efforts is a large granite monument that now stands proudly in the center of the city park. The monument was created by Generational Monuments and completed by Buchanan Monuments. Daniels said the project took four years to reach this dedication ceremony. As the proceedings came to an end, Daniels said I feel a big weight has finally been taken off me. That was literally true, since he said the granite monument weighed 34,000 pounds. Daniels words from the time he was state president are inscribed on the monument. "Let this monument stand as a constant reminder of the service of the child soldiers of the American Revolution. May their valor and sacrifices never be forgotten." Daniels told the audience that one of his heroes was a child soldier of that war. He said Andrew Jackson was not only a child soldier, but a child prisoner of war held by the British. When he refused to submit to a British officer, Daniels said the officer struck him across the face with his sword, leaving a lifelong scar. Daniels said the monument is the only one in the nation dedicated to child veterans.