Veteran's Hall

Visitors will enter the exhibit through Veteran’s Hall, a beautiful chamber of black marble and skylights featuring the American Flag and the Military Branch Seals of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard. Once in Veteran’s Hall you will see the names of Andersonians, their branch of service, rank and dates of service etched in white onto the black marble. These blocks are 5” x 12” and are included in an overall panel. There will be 30 names on each panel, 24 total panels, adding up to 720 names. 

Sponsor a block

Sponsor a block in Veteran’s Hall to honor a veteran and support Andersonians in War. Any veteran or service member who has lived in Anderson County is eligible for inclusion in Veteran’s Hall.  We are offering each 5” x 12” block for $250, which includes a one page profile in our touch screen kiosk. Your block will not be reserved until payment is received in the form of a check or PayPal payment made to the Anderson County Museum. On the memo line please indicate check as ACM Veteran’s Hall. Submit your information on our online block sponsorship form.

More about the exhibit:

Andrew Pickens and Robert Anderson both grew into leadership roles during the war while developing a lifelong friendship. Together, they helped secure the victory of the colonies and negotiated the boundaries of South Carolina with the Cherokee Nation. In Robert Anderson’s great achievement we find the namesake of Andersonville, Anderson, and Anderson County. The treaties negotiated by Pickens and Anderson carved out a place for our local history to unfold.

The life of Governor James L. Orr offers a prime glimpse into how a raging Civil War tested our county and its people. In July of 1861, Orr entered the camp at Sandy Springs where his Orr’s Rifles regiment awaited orders. He reportedly told his men: “Well boys, you are headed for hell, but if you are determined to go, I’ll go with you.” The devotion of these men and the cunning of their leaders have been remembered for generations since and will not be forgotten in Andersonians in War.

One of the greatest stories in our county’s past is that of Corporal Freddie Stowers. When the battle on the Meuse Argonne front had raged for three arduous days, the German forces lured Stowers’ unit out of their trenches with a false surrender. They opened fire, brutally destroying over half of the remaining Allied forces. Stowers took up arms in the turmoil and rallied his compatriots to victory, though he gave up his own life in the process. Corporal Stowers was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously in 1991.

Stories like these are known to many Anderson residents. A prime objective in this new exhibit will be to highlight untold stories of lesser known warriors in addition to the familiar ones. We look to the likes of Sergeant William Funk, who served in Iraq in the late 2000s. He kept a piece of home with him at all times by playing music with the Baghdad Bad Boys, a bluegrass band made up entirely of soldiers.

Another example is Army Master Sergeant Robert Latham, a veteran of both World War II and the Korean War who actually cooked a thanksgiving meal for the White House. The unique experiences of local heroes will make this exhibit different from any other military display in the nation. In addition, the bravery and heart shown by soldiers like these and their families will inspire and inform all aspects of Andersonians in War.