*NOTE - The Mountain Echo is honored to dedicate this amazing episode on Chattanooga history to a very dear and amazing Chattanooga native and former U.S. Forest Service District Ranger, Mr. Richard Thornburg, whose passion for all things good has no limits. After years of faithful, tough and excellent service in the field at different U.S. forests, Richard now serves in the halls of the Dept of Agriculture, in Washington, D.C. where his family resides and where he makes folks here in Chattanooga proud to call him ours. Richard - from the good folks here in Chattanooga, 'Thank YOU'.


Where to begin...This is a longer episode so it may take more than one listen to hear it all. tME has foregone its regular episode intro and wrap-up to help with the time.

It is really good - for many reasons. Chris Young is a Lookout Mtn Treasure for multiple reasons including his knowledge, his passion and his sense of duty, not to mention his great family here in our community. the Mountain Echo was created and continues as a means to showcase and celebrate the people of our community and their passions - Chris Young is the epitome of why we exist. We hope you enjoy this super-sized episode and topic.

Hailing from Peidmont, AL, husband of Stephanie, father of a son, a multiple-degree holder in subjects such as History and English and others, this fella wears a lot of hats.
Since 2019, he and his family have lived in our community on Lookout - just behind Rock City. His amazing wife Stephanie is a key member of the team at Lookout Pres. and works with their Missions effort. She truly has a heart of gold.

In honor of Chattanooga and the national military park here, tME is releasing this much anticipated episode on Saturday, August 19th, the exact-to-the-day anniversary of the formation of the park here. The Chattanooga and Chicakamauga battlefields were the FIRST in our nation to be preserved and Chris does a masterful job of telling that story.

In this episode, hear about many items including: Chris' family serving in the war, Chris' search for his life's calling, The movie Gettysburg and how it impacted Chris, President Benjamin Harrison serving as a soldier in Chattanooga under Sherman, how eight thousand students visited our park here one year, how the first Medal of Honor recipient was here in the Chattanooga battles, the huge importance of Chattanooga in the war, and more.

This year, 2023, marks the 160th anniversary of the battles in and around Chattanooga(1863) - and here on Lookout Mountain! Hear about the plans and events coming to Chattanooga and Lookout Mountain this fall.

As Chris says, 'This is your park, this is our park', and 'this is a place that may make some people uncomfortable', and ' we are here to preserve and protect this place for generations to come'.

And to the famous and so-loved local ranger who has served this area with excellence for so long, Jim Ogden....Jim, 'Watch Out! - this guy is GOOD!'

Chris- my God man, well done Sir indeed, well done. Thank you.

www.nps.gov/CHCH is the National Park Service's local website

Credits: The Civil War soundtrack by Ken Burns/ PBS - multiple tracks

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Also, many thanks for closing music featuring the Dismembered Tennesseans and vocals by the amazing Laura Walker singing Tennessee Waltz.