AUGUSTA, GA (WFXG) -
The Battle of Aiken wrapped up its
annual three-day reenactment. Despite the bad weather the last couple of days,
many said the fundraiser was still a success.
"If we don't know where we come
from, how can we ever know where we are going?" said Commander Wayne
Jones, Sons of the Confederate Veterans.
A motto Wayne Jones lives by, to share
the history and heritage of the civil war. Jones is known as the commander or one
of the coordinators of the Battle of Aiken, an event that has brought 19th
century culture and tradition back to the CSRA for the last 18 years.
"It's a chance for us to share our
history, teach and educate," said Jones.
Education is one of the main purposes of
the event. Money raised supports local
charitable groups. People from all over the U.S. participate, including cadets
from The Citadel.
"We are not forced to come out here
and do this, this is something we all come out to do because we all love
history and we all love preserving our heritage and we don't want people to
forget who we are and where we came from," said Cadet Cpl. Matthew
Williamson.
An experience that everyone benefits
from, spectators enjoyed an afternoon of entertainment education by actors who
want to continue to pass down the nation's history from generation to
generation.
It's an event that reaches beyond the
battlefield.
"We know that financially it's an
influx on a good weekend here of somewhere between three and six million
dollars to the CSRA," said Jones.
The battle brings people from all over
the world to Aiken. With that in mind, nothing was going to stop the soldiers
from using their guns and canons.
"The weather was iffy but we were
going to do it because we play rain or shine," said Jones.
A factor that barely affected this
year's turnout.
Money
raised will support three charities, the Sam Davis Youth Camp, a junior ROTC
scholarship, and one other they will choose based on need.
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