The park will be open Memorial Day weekend, May 25 through May 27 with special activities only being held on Memorial Day, May 27, 2024, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. Programming will begin with a Civil War soldiers’ camp life and drill presentation by Park staff. Visitors are then invited to hear perspectives on Memorial Day from a present, active-duty military member. A special ceremony will start with the presentation of colors, followed by remarks from the Park’s Executive Director, Colin Romanick and a cannon fire salute followed by the playing of TAPS.

An afternoon program titled “Music that Moves the Military” will be presented by Bill Stallings, as he shares the importance of military music, on the parade ground and in battle. The viewing of “War So Terrible” which follows two Civil War soldiers, Benjamin Franklin Meyers of the Union and Andrew Jackson Stewart of the Confederacy, will be shown later, in the Battlefield Center.

A special temporary art display portraying American military actions and personalities from the American Revolution through the Global War on Terror will be available for viewing throughout the day. Artist Henry Kidd will also speak about his displayed ‘stretcher art’, where he uses original stretchers as his artistic canvases. The vivid colors and detailed scenes of Kidd’s work, portrays the various aspects of soldiers’ lives from combat and drill to convalescence. Artwork will additionally feature themes from the September 11, 2001 terrorists attacks on the World Trade Center and Pentagon embodied in Kidd’s work titled “America’s Heroes.”

Henry Kidd is a nationally recognized historical artist. His fine art has appeared in documentaries on the History Channel and on covers of many books and magazines. He designed the Confederate Medal of Honor. His artwork hangs in many prestigious institutions and museums such as West Point, Virginia Military Institute, Mariner’s Museum, Museum of the Confederacy, Petersburg National Battlefield, the Virginia Historical Society and others.

This special Pamplin Historical Park Memorial Day remembrance is sponsored by the Bank of Southside Virginia. The Park is open May 25 through 27 and the special programming will take place on Memorial Day only. Daily admission for adults is $15, seniors (65+) $12.00, children (6-12) $8, and children under 6 free. Active-duty military members with ID receive free admission on Memorial Day.