Moderator’s introduction

Today’s moderator: Rick Badie

Rick Badie joined The Atlanta Journal-Constitution as an education reporter in 1997. A South Georgia native, he’s covered the region’s immigrant communities, was a feature obituary writer and opinion columnist for the AJC’s Gwinnett edition.

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Today, we address preservation of the state’s Civil War battlefields and other sites tied to the conflict. A Georgia Historical Society executive updates us on a project to erect historical markers that offer a broader view of the struggle, while an official with the Georgia Battlefields Association writes about the need to save landmarks. Finally, in honor of July 4, a local attorney challenges us to serve.

Guest columnists:

Save Civil War sites to save our history by Charlie Crawford

Building tourism to highlight heritage by W. Todd Groce