Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park

06/11/2026

Who is coming to the Square Dance on June 20th at Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park? Beginning at 6:30pm CST, this is a free event, and fun for the whole family! The dance will feature caller Tony Branam, and the Stones River Reelers! Mark your calendars!

Summer Square Dance - June 20th 6:30pm, Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park, featuring the Stones River Reelers!

06/11/2026

From the very beginning of the Great War there were Americans who refused to wait for the United States to get involved. Many of these men came from Tennessee. Some like Kiffin Rockwell and his brother Paul, served in the French Army, others went north and joined the Canadian Army. Join Historian Pat Gang as he relates this untold but important story from the Great War at 1pm in the park visitor center on Saturday, June 13th.

06/10/2026

The 30th Division was made up of National Guard units from Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. The 117th Infantry Regiment was drawn largely from the 3rd Tennessee Infantry Regiment. The 114th Field Artillery Regiment was raised largely from the State of Tennessee. They were attached to British 4th Army and served with distinction. Join historian Pat Gang at 1pm CST June 12th in the park visitor center to hear stories of this distinguished division.

06/09/2026

“Will Sergt. York Accept Offers?”

“Question Will be Settled on His Visit to Nashville.”

June 9th would be the last article Capt. Robert Fields would write in his series about Sgt. York for the Nashville Banner. This article was meant to clarify any remaining information about Alvin and Gracie’s wedding and set the stage for the newlyweds visit to Nashville. There was a lot of excitement around the couple’s visit, and there was some speculation about whether or not Alvin would make money on his story. “Will Alvin York accept any of the flattering offers made him in New York by vaudeville, screen and newspaper managers? That question will be answered by York himself when he leaves Nashville on the present trip.” Capt. Fields explained that citizens of New York City were offering to bring Alvin and Gracie to the city for him to entertain their offers. However, Governor Alfred Roberts and Pastor Rosier Pile both expressed that Alvin would not commercialize his fame by traveling to New York City.

Stories about the wedding ceremony were included in this article that weren’t written on June 8th. Capt. Fields described how visibly calm Alvin was before the wedding, saying that “Maybe he (Alvin) was thinking of machine gun nests long ago in some forgotten age when nerve pulled a fellow through. Maybe he was thinking of the whine of shells and did not hear the clatter of the women folk who were trying to get things ready for the wedding. ‘Look,’ he said, holding out his hand to prove his statement. ‘I’m not nervous.’” The article reiterates that no cameras or motion picture machines were allowed at the wedding. During the wedding, the initials ‘A. Y.’ and ‘G. W.’ were spotted on a beech tree beside the bride and groom. According to Capt. Fields, this had been done by the couple at that spot years before the wedding. Rev. W. T. Haggard from Governor Roberts’ staff and Pastor Pile both gave benedictions during the ceremony. As Capt. Fields explains, “Twisted about an arch that overhung the giant boulder-pulpit were the colors of Old Glory. Surrounded by tall beech trees, York and his bride faced the crowd on the lower slopes of the hill while the governor tied the knot. Never before in the history of Tennessee has such a wedding been performed.”

Capt. Fields concluded his article by explaining that Alvin and Gracie’s visit to Nashville was an important event to witness. The Ryman Auditorium was hosting the couple on the evening of June 9th. During the program, Alvin would receive from Governor Roberts both the Tennessee Medal for Valor and a commission as a colonel for life. Although in attendance for this program, Capt. Fields would not write about this ceremony. During the early days of May and June in 1919, Captain Robert Fields would learn a lot about the humble sergeant from Pall Mall. His reporting for the Nashville Banner newspaper provided stories, details, and facts about the York family, and Sgt. York, that are accurate over a century later. Thanks everyone for following along with our posts about Sgt. York’s story through the eyes of a fellow doughboy!

06/08/2026

Mark your calendar for events on the 4th of July at Sgt. Alvin C. York State Historic Park!

Celebrate the 4th of July at the home and farm of celebrated war hero, Sgt. Alvin C. York! On the country's 250th birthday, experience special tours and programs offered at the park throughout the day. Create your own history-based-adventure by purchasing tickets for any special tours you and your family would like to attend, and plan to spend the day with us in beautiful Pall Mall, TN by the banks of the Wolf River!

Follow this link to register and for more information: https://tnstateparks.com/events/america-250-sgt-york-jubilee

06/08/2026

“York Married to Miss Williams”

“Ceremony Performed by Gov. Roberts Before Two Thousand People”

Capt. Robert Fields wrote his article on the wedding of Sgt. Alvin C. York and Gracie Williams on the evening of June 7th, and the article was published in the June 8th edition of the Nashville Banner. The article is lengthy in describing everyone involved in the event, from the Governor’s staff to the wedding party and family members. It also published the speeches of Governor Roberts and Major E. B. Stahlman, who were the main speakers in the wedding ceremony. Capt. Fields first lists the newlywed couple, saying “The bride was gowned in white satin and wore white shoes and stockings. She also carried a beautiful bouquet of white roses. The distinguished groom was garbed in a handsome sarge uniform and wore the congressional medal of honor and the croix de guerre with palm, both awarded for the remarkable feat in the battle of the Argonne on Oct. 8, 1918.” Capt. Fields lists the maids of honor as Misses Ida Wright, Maud Brier, and Adelia Darwin. The best man was Sgt. Henry Clay Brier, a fellow doughboy from Fentress County.

Governor Roberts made it clear at the start of the ceremony that motion pictures were prohibited from being used. The Fentress County sheriff enforced this decree strictly during the entire ceremony. Capt. Fields wrote that Governor Roberts was the first to speak, paying high praise to Sgt. York and Tennesseans in the world war. “Then our boys rallied to the flag and went by hundreds and thousands. They fought only to make the world free for all men everywhere. I believe that the hand of God was in all that York did. We are proud that this boy has come home to us. He did his duty by God and is going to do his duty by the American army and the American flag.” Maj. Stahlman rose next to speak, and Capt. Fields wrote that he praised Alvin for his honorable actions in France. “I have lived in Tennessee for fifty odd years. Many things have happened of which we can be proud, but the behavior of Tennesseans in this war was not surpassed by any soldier in the world. I honor you Alvin York. I honor the things for which you have stood and I believe with you that God has helped you.”

After the vows were said by Alvin and Gracie, the “Great Wedding Feast” began. Capt. Fields explained that “The wedding feast was one such as never before known in the history of nuptials in Tennessee. The two thousand guests had brought baskets loaded with all the delicacies known to the culinary art, and in addition the people of Pall Mall had slaughtered one beef, one hog, one hundred turkeys, six goats and four sheep. There was more than an abundance for the vast multitude gathered under the sighing pines and the gray beeches of the valley of the Three Forks O’ Wolf.” The feast was spread atop long tables made from chicken wire according to Capt. Fields. As the gathered crowds dined on the meal, the air buzzed with excitement about the future of the happy couple.

The Nashville Banner continued to be full of stories about Sgt. York the day after his wedding. A song about Alvin’s love titled “The Home Light for Him” was republished from a newspaper in Atlanta, GA. A photo of Alvin and the men he was drafted with in 1917 was published and explained. Excitement continued to surround Alvin and Gracie’s visit to Nashville, with speculation about trips to Salt Lake City and New York City in their future. More details about the wedding would be published the following day, June 9th, by Capt. Fields. Come back tomorrow to read about the concluding story of Sgt. Alvin C. York by Captain Robert Fields!

06/07/2026

“Wedding Bells for Sergt. York”

“Mountain Hero Takes Miss Gracie Williams as His Bride”

Sgt. Alvin C. York and Miss Gracie Williams were married on this day 107 years ago. Capt. Robert Fields published an article in the Nashville Banner on this day, but it was not about the wedding ceremony. Since his last article on June 4th, many details about the wedding had been published. Capt. Fields hoped to clarify these announcements by writing an article before the ceremony. Capt. Fields wrote that Governor Alfred Roberts was given the honor of officiating the wedding in Pall Mall, and he arrived with his entourage of staff the day before to prepare. Although Pastor Pile wanted to officiate the wedding, he understood the importance of the Governor being there in his place. The dinner after the ceremony was expected to be grand, with Capt. Fields writing, “The day is being celebrated by a monster picnic spread under the trees near York’s cabin home. For miles and miles up in the hills, some even from Kentucky, the people, old and young, have come, bringing their baskets well filled with chicken and hams and pies and cakes of a multitude of forms. The picnic is being laid as a wedding feast for York and his bride, who will be dined upon the best the Cumberland mountains afford and wined upon the crystal cold water of the gushing York spring.”

According to Capt. Fields, many fancy wedding gifts were brought from Nashville for the newlywed couple. Capt. Fields listed items including a wedding ring, a suffrage brooch, a wristwatch, a bouquet of flowers, and a solid silver bowl with Gracie’s initials. Since the wedding was being held outside, “The young couple will walk down a lane of wedding guests under the tress. There will be no wedding march save the wind in the pines.” After the wedding, there was speculation about where the couple would spend their honeymoon. Capt. Fields confirmed the couple was traveling on June 9th to Nashville to participate in events being held there. There was a potential plan to go to Salt Lake City, Utah for the International Rotary Club convention, but the couple was still undecided.

There was a lot of excitement in the leadup to Alvin and Gracie’s wedding. The Nashville Banner reported frequently about the preparations being made. Despite Capt. Fields’ article not being published until the 7th, several pictures of Alvin and his family he made were published on June 6th. Events at the Ryman Auditorium and the State Capitol were being planning for Alvin and Gracie’s visit on June 9th. Although not published on the wedding day, Capt. Fields would witness and write about the wedding ceremony for readers of the Nashville Banner. Come back tomorrow to read in detail about the ceremony that took place in the Wolf River Valley!

06/05/2026

Celebrate the 4th of July at the home and farm of celebrated war hero, Sgt. Alvin C. York! On the country's 250th birthday, experience special tours and programs offered at the park throughout the day. Create your own history-based-adventure by purchasing tickets for any special tours you and your family would like to attend, and plan to spend the day with us in beautiful Pall Mall, TN by the banks of the Wolf River!

Follow this link to register and for more information: https://tnstateparks.com/events/america-250-sgt-york-jubilee

06/04/2026

“Kills 19 Bears, Needs One More”

“Giles Watson of Fentress County Holds Championship of Tennessee”

Capt. Fields changes topics when he writes about Mr. Giles Watson of Fentress County for his article on June 4th. According to Capt. Fields, Mr. Watson was “another great hunter and marksman of whom the people of his county are proud.” Mr. Watson was considered a champion bear killer in Tennessee, and Capt. Fields got to meet him during the Decoration Day service at the Upchurch cemetery. At the service, Mr. Watson was wearing a straight jumper and carrying a cane that he had carved himself. Capt. Fields said that Mr. Watson was known for making and wearing moccasins and was sometimes called “Brother Moccasin” by his peers. Mr. Watson was a notable character in the Pall Mall community, and he was proud that he never ate a meal without wild meat on his table.

Mr. Watson was in the Union Army during the Civil War, serving in the Kentucky Thirtieth Infantry. He was seventy-five years old when Capt. Fields met him at the Decoration Day service. Capt. Fields had this to say about him: “Innumerable wild turkeys, fur-bearing animals, and deer have fallen before the unerring aim of the old hunter. All his life has been spent as a hunter in the mountain regions. Today he stands as erect and as clear of eye as any man of 40. He is a forceful speaker and you know that the things he tells of other days are true.” Mr. Watson was proud of the nineteen bears he had killed in his life, but he wanted to kill at least one more before he died. As Capt. Fields said, “The Wolf River country has furnished some famous marksmen, but few can outrival the fame of Giles Watson and Alvin York.”

Although a smaller article than the others written by Capt. Fields, plenty of information about Sgt. York is in this newspaper. Capt. Fields reported that Jamestown and Fentress County were planning a large event on June 7th. “York Day” was being proposed as the largest event in the history of Fentress County. Prominent speakers from across the state were to attend, and thousands of people were expected to participate. This plan was canceled on June 5th when Alvin and Gracie announced their wedding was going to be held on the same day. The Nashville Vols minor league baseball team announced that Sgt. York would throw out the first pitch with Governor Alfred Roberts on June 10th. The York Farm fund was doing well, with the Nashville Rotary Club optimistic they would be able to buy a farm for Alvin. Capt. Fields would pause his writing for a few days in anticipation for Alvin and Gracie’s wedding. Come back on Sunday to read about the preparations that were taking place for the wedding!

06/04/2026

Come join us for the first of the Summer Lecture Series presented by Sgt Alvin C. York State Historic Park this weekend, Friday and Saturday, June 5th and 6th at 1pm CST at the park visitor center.