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I was participating in the annual living history weekend on March 11th and 12th where re-enactors portray Union prisoners as well as Confederates for the public to get a small view of the history of Andersonville. At the stockade site , there is a portrayal of 1864 and is in memory of not only the Union prisoners held there but the Confederate guards who also suffered and died at the site. The event took place all day Saturday and Sunday. This also includes lantern tours on Saturday night which takes visitors back in time to experience the site as it was like during the civil war.
The experience was rewarded by those who took place by the unannounced visit by Hollywood celebrities Martin Sheen and his daughter Renee` Estevez and friend Tona. Mr. Sheen is a history buff and among his movies he portrayed Gen. Robert E, Lee in the movie epic Gettysburg. The re-enactors were not aware he was onsite and that he went on one of the tours until the Mr. Sheen had left the grounds. Mr. Sheen`s comments included saying he was very pleased with the experience and wondered why it is only preformed once a year. Miss Estevez and Tona returned Sunday to complete her visit and was accompanied by myself to a tour of the National Cemetery. During this tour Mr. Sheen returned to the site and found myself and Miss Estevez and Tona in the cemetery where he joined the tour. I had the thrilling experience to not only meet Mr. Sheen but spent nearly an hour and a half talking to him about the war as well as telling him the history of Andersonville National Cemetery and the events which lead up to the cemetery’s establishment. Before leaving he was happy to take photos with me and Mr. Mark Stibitz who is another park volunteer/ historian.
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