Anyone who has read much literature about the Civil War knows the author Edwin C. Bearss.

Anyone who has read much literature about the Civil War knows the author Edwin C. Bearss.

Bearss is a national historian. He also played a major part in the restoration of the USS Cairo, which was a gunboat used by Union forces. The Cairo is on display at the Vicksburg, Miss., National Military Park.

Bearss served as chief historian of the military park service from 1981 to 1994.

Bearss is known for the slogan, “You can’t know a military park until you walk it.” He has spent most of his life walking across and writing about military parks.

Anyone who grew up around Vicksburg knew Bearss would take folks on interpretive tours. At one time, he lead as many as eight one-hour tours each day at the park.

Today, they’ll unveil a bust to honor Bearss at the Vicksburg Military Park.

Folks will gather in front of the Cairo and honor this historian, this man so filled with energy and love for history it makes thinking about and studying the past a sheer pleasure.

His work is far from over, although he carries the designation of historian emeritus and his age has reached upward into the 80s.

Bearss still has one of the sharpest minds and best grasps of Civil War history of anyone living today..

Bearss served as chief historian of the military park service from 1981 to 1994.

Bearss is known for the slogan, “You can’t know a military park until you walk it.” He has spent most of his life walking across and writing about military parks.

Anyone who grew up around Vicksburg knew Bearss would take folks on interpretive tours. At one time, he lead as many as eight one-hour tours each day at the park.

Today, they’ll unveil a bust to honor Bearss at the Vicksburg Military Park.

Folks will gather in front of the Cairo and honor this historian, this man so filled with energy and love for history it makes thinking about and studying the past a sheer pleasure.

His work is far from over, although he carries the designation of historian emeritus and his age has reached upward into the 80s.

Bearss still has one of the sharpest minds and best grasps of Civil War history of anyone living today.