Senate Resolution 61

A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE PASSING OF PREEMINENT MISSISSIPPI PUBLIC HISTORIAN AND WORLD WAR II VETERAN EDWIN COLE "ED" BEARSS AND TO RECOGNIZE HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PRESERVATION OF AMERICAN CIVIL WAR HISTORY AND CONTINUED EFFORTS TO BRING OUR NATION'S HISTORY ALIVE FOR NEW GENERATIONS THROUGH HIS INTERPRETIVE STORYTELLING.

WHEREAS, we join the citizens of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and the legions of students of the American Civil War in mourning the passing of preeminent Mississippi Public Historian Edwin Cole "Ed" Bearss who passed away on September 15, 2020; and

WHEREAS, during a 40-year career with the National Park Service, Mr. Bearss distinguished himself as one of America's preeminent historians, particularly in the field of the Civil War, not only through his work to preserve the places in which our nation's history was forged but also through his captivating interpretive storytelling about the people and events that shaped those places; and

WHEREAS, Edwin Cole "Ed" Bearss was born June 26, 1923, in Billings, Montana, to Omar and Virginia Bearss. He graduated high school in May, 1941, and the following year joined the United States Marine Corps, serving with the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion during the invasion of Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands. He was badly wounded in gunfire at "Suicide Creek," Cape Gloucester, New Britain, while serving with the 7th Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Upon returning home, Ed attended Georgetown University, obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Service studies, and later attended Indiana University, earning a Master's Degree in History; and

WHEREAS, in 1955, Ed accepted a position as Park Historian at the National Battlefield Park in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where his research helped fill in missing pieces of Civil War History. None were more significant than the discovery of the USS Cairo, a long-lost Union Ironclad Gunboat sunk by Confederate submarine torpedoes in 1862, that was buried in the mud of the Yazoo River. Mr. Bearss later authored a book on the "Sinking and Salvage" of the Cairo; and

WHEREAS, it was during his tenure at Vicksburg that Ed met his wife, Margie, a teacher who shared Ed's love of history. They had three children, Sara, Cole and Jenny; and

WHEREAS, he became the National Park Service's Chief Historian in 1981. Following his retirement in 1994, he was recognized with the title Chief Historian Emeritus, a fitting title as his research and recounting of our nation's history continues to this day; and

WHEREAS, while with the National Park Service, he testified many times before Congress. He also served on the Civil War Sites Advisory Commission, established by Congress to guide it on priorities for battlefield preservation. In 1990, Ed achieved national and lasting fame as one of the commentators in Ken Burns' movie, The Civil War. Ed established a new career as Teacher, Lecturer and Tour Guide, educating and leading literally thousands of people across battlefields of almost every American war. He continued leading tours until late 2019; and

WHEREAS, Ed leaves two extraordinary legacies. As a public Historian, he is the author, editor or contributor of more than 25 books, 100 scholarly papers, countless National Park Service monographs and oral histories. As a preservationist, he was responsible for the creation, expansion, and restoration of historic battlefields, houses, and other sites integral to American History. For his contributions to the field, Ed was recognized numerous times, including receiving honorary degrees from Lincoln College and Gettysburg College, the Distinguished Service Award from the Department of the Interior, the Wailes Award (the highest historical award from the State of Mississippi), and awards from various Civil War Round Tables; and

WHEREAS, in 2005, the Smithsonian Institution named Ed as one of 35 people "who made a difference: to our world." The National Park Service Edwin C. Bearss Fellowship Award and the American Battlefield Trust Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award were established in his honor. He was a Fellow of the Company of Military Historians and a lifetime Trustee of the American Battlefield Trust. At the time of his death, members of the United States Congress sponsored a resolution to award Ed the Congressional Gold Medal; and

WHEREAS, we pay tribute and cherish fondly the memory of this most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi who spent his career keeping America's history fresh in the minds of future generations:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the passing of preeminent Mississippi Public Historian and World War II Veteran, Edwin Cole "Ed" Bearss, and to recognize his contributions to the preservation of American Civil War History and continued efforts to bring our nation's history alive for new generations through his interpretive storytelling, and extend the condolences of the Mississippi Senate to his surviving family.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to the surviving family of Edwin Cole "Ed" Bearss, forwarded to the Vicksburg Military Park, and made available to the Capitol Press Corps.