Edwin Cole Bearss Update

Kirk David Lyons

My Dad made the silver Texas star Ed wears on his lapel. Ed came to the Austin Civil War Round Table every year - my Dad & his friend Fred Morse would pick Ed up & return him to the airport for almost 20 years.

From Nicholas: Edwin Cole Bearss, Civil War historian extraordinaire, turns 97 this June.

Unfortunately, Ed’s health is starting to fail. Tom Broadfoot, of Broadfoot Publishing, released an email today stating, in part, the following:

“Ed Bearss, decorated Marine, wounded at Guadalcanal, author of many Civil War books, leader of thousands of Civil War battlefield tours, sought-after Civil War speaker, Chief Historian of the National Park Service. If your interest is the Civil War Ed has contributed greatly to your interest.

Ed is now 96, and confined to his apartment. He is quite hard of hearing so phone calls and visits are not beneficial.

He much enjoys and appreciates letters, as his wonderful caretaker daughter Jenny says ‘letters make his day.’

So—consider taking a few minutes to write to Ed. Ideas: talk about the books he authored, or recall a tour or speech he gave, thank him for his service as a Marine and a Parks historian; pen any stories you have of the Civil War. If you’ve purchased any books from our recent catalogue of Ed’s books...tell him how pleased you are to have books from his collection...

Tom Broadfoot”
Letters may be mailed to:
Ed Bearss
1126 17th St. S.
Arlington, VA 22202