WALKERS OF all ages stand in the chilled breeze of an October morning in Franklin County as raindrops drizzle from the gray clouds above. The crowd waits in reverence at the Old Cowan Road Park pavilion as a guest speaker stands to recite a Cherokee blessing. Some dress in authentic clothing from the 1800s, and some ride horses and wagons, while others walk in modern clothes — all are welcome. Guest speakers present the history of the people they have gathered to honor — the Cherokee people who were forcefully removed from their homes and made to walk on what would be named “the Trail of Tears,” due to inhumane conditions, treacherous trails, and numerous fatalities.
Kathy Pack, a member of the Franklin County Historical Society and the Tennessee Trail of Tears Association, has worked for the Franklin County Library as the IT Specialist and its history liaison for nearly nine years. She has been involved with the Trail of Tears walk since 2019, when the library first partnered with the walk’s founder, Floyd Ayers. Ayers hosted it on his own for the first walk in 2018, and he was instrumental in getting Trail of Tears markers placed along the route in Franklin County, along with David Moore. Pack said Ayers did a wonderful job leading this event until he died last September, and the library continues his noble work.
Pack is passionate about educating the community about history, especially the Trail of Tears. The library offers history-based programming in addition to quarterly historical society programs. Her mission is to honor the families affected by this tragic event and inform the public so that it does not repeat the devastating behaviors of the past.
“We do have to acknowledge our past so that we don’t repeat things like this, and so that we can try to reconcile the best we can. We walk in the footsteps of those who walked through Winchester in October of 1838 to honor them and their resilience and dedication to survive and thrive despite the cruelty and hardships endured on the Trail of Tears,” Pack said.
In fact, Pack’s own great-great-grand-mother was Cherokee, and this personal connection strengthens her compassion for those affected by the Trail of Tears. Pack said one of the most impactful quotes from this tragedy was from a Confederate soldier who accompanied the Cherokee on the trail, who said, “I had been through the Civil War and saw men shot to pieces and slaughtered by the thousands, but the Cherokee removal was the cruelest work I ever saw.”
This is why walkers solemnly traverse this local stretch of the Trail of Tears each year. Historical documentation confirms that the Cherokee people passed through Winchester on Oct. 29, 1838, so the event is always held in October. The walk ends at the library, where walkers find food offerings, including Indian tacos, displays from local state parks with artifacts and Atlatl (spear weapon) throwing demonstrations. It is an incredible opportunity to learn about and honor extraordinary people, an event that Pack hopes will continue to grow each year. GN
