MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE REGULAR SESSION 2020

By: Senator(s) Hopson To: Rules

SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 61

1 A RESOLUTION MOURNING THE PASSING OF PREEMINENT 2 PUBLIC HISTORIAN AND WORLD WAR II VETERAN EDWIN COLE "ED" BEARSS 3 AND TO RECOGNIZE HIS CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE PRESERVATION OF AMERICAN 4 CIVIL WAR HISTORY AND CONTINUED EFFORTS TO BRING OUR NATION'S 5 HISTORY ALIVE FOR NEW GENERATIONS THROUGH HIS INTERPRETIVE 6 STORYTELLING. 7 WHEREAS, we join the citizens of Vicksburg, Mississippi, and 8 the legions of students of the in mourning the

9 passing of preeminent Mississippi Public Historian Edwin Cole "Ed" 10 Bearss who passed away on September 15, 2020; and 11 WHEREAS, during a 40-year career with the National Park 12 Service, Mr. Bearss distinguished himself as one of America's 13 preeminent historians, particularly in the field of the Civil War, 14 not only through his work to preserve the places in which our 15 nation's history was forged but also through his captivating

16 interpretive storytelling about the people and events that shaped 17 those places; and 18 WHEREAS, Edwin Cole "Ed" Bearss was born June 26, 1923, in 19 Billings, Montana, to Omar and Bearss. He graduated high 20 school in May, 1941, and the following year joined the United S. R. No. 61 *SS08/R1359* ~ OFFICIAL ~ N1/2 20/SS08/R1359 PAGE 1 (rdd\tb) 21 States Marine Corps, serving with the 3rd Marine Raider Battalion 22 during the invasion of Guadalcanal and the Russell Islands. He 23 was badly wounded in gunfire at "Suicide Creek," Cape Gloucester, 24 New Britain, while serving with the 7th Regiment, 1st Marine 25 Division. Upon returning home, Ed attended , 26 obtaining a Bachelor's Degree in Foreign Service studies, and

27 later attended Indiana University, earning a Master's Degree in 28 History; and 29 WHEREAS, in 1955, Ed accepted a position as Park Historian at 30 the National Battlefield Park in Vicksburg, Mississippi, where his 31 research helped fill in missing pieces of Civil War History. None 32 were more significant than the discovery of the USS Cairo, a 33 long-lost Union Ironclad Gunboat sunk by Confederate submarine

34 torpedoes in 1862, that was buried in the mud of the Yazoo River. 35 Mr. Bearss later authored a book on the "Sinking and Salvage" of 36 the Cairo; and 37 WHEREAS, it was during his tenure at Vicksburg that Ed met 38 his wife, Margie, a teacher who shared Ed's love of history. They

39 had three children, Sara, Cole and Jenny; and 40 WHEREAS, he became the 's Chief

41 Historian in 1981. Following his retirement in 1994, he was 42 recognized with the title Chief Historian Emeritus, a fitting 43 title as his research and recounting of our nation's history 44 continues to this day; and

S. R. No. 61 *SS08/R1359* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 20/SS08/R1359 PAGE 2 (rdd\tb) 45 WHEREAS, while with the National Park Service, he testified 46 many times before Congress. He also served on the Civil War Sites 47 Advisory Commission, established by Congress to guide it on 48 priorities for battlefield preservation. In 1990, Ed achieved 49 national and lasting fame as one of the commentators in Ken Burns' 50 movie, The Civil War. Ed established a new career as Teacher,

51 Lecturer and Tour Guide, educating and leading literally thousands 52 of people across battlefields of almost every American war. He 53 continued leading tours until late 2019; and 54 WHEREAS, Ed leaves two extraordinary legacies. As a public 55 Historian, he is the author, editor or contributor of more than 25 56 books, 100 scholarly papers, countless National Park Service 57 monographs and oral histories. As a preservationist, he was

58 responsible for the creation, expansion, and restoration of 59 historic battlefields, houses, and other sites integral to 60 American History. For his contributions to the field, Ed was 61 recognized numerous times, including receiving honorary degrees 62 from Lincoln College and , the Distinguished

63 Service Award from the Department of the Interior, the Wailes 64 Award (the highest historical award from the State of

65 Mississippi), and awards from various Civil War Round Tables; and 66 WHEREAS, in 2005, the named Ed as one 67 of 35 people "who made a difference: to our world." The National 68 Park Service Edwin C. Bearss Fellowship Award and the American 69 Battlefield Trust Edwin C. Bearss Lifetime Achievement Award were

S. R. No. 61 *SS08/R1359* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 20/SS08/R1359 PAGE 3 (rdd\tb) 70 established in his honor. He was a Fellow of the Company of 71 Military Historians and a lifetime Trustee of the American 72 Battlefield Trust. At the time of his death, members of the 73 sponsored a resolution to award Ed the 74 Congressional Gold Medal; and 75 WHEREAS, we pay tribute and cherish fondly the memory of this

76 most public-spirited citizen of Mississippi who spent his career 77 keeping America's history fresh in the minds of future 78 generations: 79 NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF 80 MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby mourn the passing of preeminent 81 Mississippi Public Historian and World War II Veteran, Edwin Cole 82 "Ed" Bearss, and to recognize his contributions to the

83 preservation of American Civil War History and continued efforts 84 to bring our nation's history alive for new generations through 85 his interpretive storytelling, and extend the condolences of the 86 Mississippi Senate to his surviving family. 87 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That this resolution be presented to

88 the surviving family of Edwin Cole "Ed" Bearss, forwarded to the 89 Vicksburg Military Park, and made available to the Capitol Press

90 Corps.

S. R. No. 61 *SS08/R1359* ~ OFFICIAL ~ 20/SS08/R1359 ST: Mourn the passing of MS Historian Edwin PAGE 4 (rdd\tb) "Ed" Bearss and recognize his contributions to preservation of Civil War History.