The keynote speaker was former history teacher Zell Miller, now a United States Senator, and more than 400 people turned out for the event. It was announced at the meeting that $3,250,000 has been raised toward building a new $4 million Northeast Georgia History Center at Brenau University, and that the drive is now underway to raise the remaining money so ground can be broken, hopefully this summer.
Senator Miller drew a laugh from the crowd saying he was happy to make an appearance in which he didn't have to talk about politics, and he didn't. But he did talk with understanding and passion about the importance of history, and especially of the importance of both recording and teaching the history of this region.
Miller talked about the character of the people of the mountain area of Georgia, about their love of family and their unstinted trust in God. But history will tell you there was, and is, one overriding characteristic of Northeast Georgia people, Miller said, and that is their independence.
A respect for history has been making a comeback in the United States in recent years, and especially since 9-1 You have, am sure, heard the reports on how little our youngsters know about the history of the United States, and what makes America great.
The people who track tourism will tell you there is a growing interest in Georgia history. And I personally can vouch for the fact there is a new interest among young people in the history of Northeast Georgia. In the business world, it is again being pointed out that it is almost impossible to predict the future and plan for it without understanding the past.
It appears the people of Northeast Georgia are going to do something about that by building a new, vibrant history center at Brenau University. And Zell Miller, the historian, got it off to a good start.
This is Gordon Sawyer, from a window on historic Green Street.
http://accesswdun.com/article/2002/7/191850