The U.S. Semiquincentennial.  What's that?   

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On July 4, 2026, our nation and Tennessee will celebrate the U.S. semiquincentennial: the 250th Anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. 

 

A key part of that celebration will be remembering and honoring the first veterans, the Patriots of the American Revolution.  Without them, there would be no semiquincentennial!  Each is an enduring link to Tennessee's early history and the generation that secured America's independence. 

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This proposal aims to officially recognize the 17 veteran-patriots who settled in Perry County after 1819 by connecting their legacy directly to a geographic feature of the Buffalo River.    It's a tribute perfectly timed with the nation's 250th anniversary, ensuring their story lives on for generations. 

 

​​​​The proposed name, Patriot Bend, is symbolic.  It includes the land where one of those early Patriots, John Talley, had his homestead.  However, the name includes all of those early Patriots who settled within the Buffalo River's watershed.   See Google Earth photo, USGS map and Talley homesteads.  ​​

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The U.S. Board on Geographic Names (BGN) is responsible for standardizing the place names of geographic features within the 50 states and other areas under the sovereignty of the United States.  ​Naming this geographic feature Patriot Bend is one way of ensuring those first Patriots are honored during the semi quincentennial.  The name will appear on the USGS topographic map of the area.  It will also ensure future generations remember them as their names will be added to the BGN database.    

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Historic Background​

After the Revolutionary War, many veterans moved westward.  By 1819, four had settled in Perry County.   Between 1820 and 1830, their number increased to 17.  In the 1840 Federal Census, ten remained. Of those, six were of the original 1820 cohort.  Today, three are buried here:  Obediah Britt, John Talley, and William Young.  See chart of names. 

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​​​​​​The condition of their final resting sites vary, from known with a monument, to known but unseen.   This is an attempt to honor all of them, regardless of their final resting site.  (see below).  

 

There is no cost in submitting this proposal to the BGN for consideration.  However, it can only be considered this one time.  

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Next Step:  If you support this proposal as a way to remember and to honor those first veterans and to educate future generations about our national heritage, you can sign an on-line petition .    The BGN will consider the proposal after the government returns to business.  If approved, it could be in place by the semiquincentennial.  So, the sooner you reply, the better.   Thank you! 

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David Talley, Colonel, US Air Force (ret)

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​Member:  American Legion

                   Sons of the American Revolution 

                   Tennessee Historical Society 

                   Perry County Historical Society 

                   Middle Tennessee Genealogical Society

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