Winter 2010-11 Issue a publication of the Sgt.
York Patriotic Foundation
With a motto of “Legacy in Action,”
Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation (SYPF)
is preserving and promoting the legacy of America’s
greatest WWI hero, Alvin C. York.
The Foundation enjoys a productive working relationship
with the management and staff of
Sgt. York State Historic Park and the heirs of Sgt.York.
With the Centennial of World War I imminent, the SYPF is
perfectly positioned to remind new generations of the
impact and importance of the War to End All Wars.
Mission Statement
Founded in 1993, the Sgt. York Patriotic
Foundation (SYPF) is a nonprofit corporation
funded by voluntary contributions and grants. It
serves to continue historical research, preserve the
Sgt. Alvin C. York homeplace, farm, Bible School
and artifacts, develop and coordinate educational
opportunities for youth and adults, increase
sustainable heritage tourism to Sgt. York State Park
and restore the 1920s-era York Institute building.
2011 Partnerships or Memberships
Before
Sgt. York State Historic Park
Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park
Tennessee Humanities Council
Tennessee Arts Commission
Upper Cumberland Development District
Fentress County Chamber of Commerce (member)
Crossville Chamber of Commerce (member)
Cookeville Chamber of Commerce (member)
During
Pickett Chamber of Commerce (member)
Upper Cumberland Tourism Association (member)
Alliance for the Cumberlands (member)
National Trust for Historic Preservation (member)
Tennessee Preservation Trust (member)
Tennessee Association of Museums (member)
Friends of Cordell Hull Birthplace State Park (member)
Friends of Tennessee State Parks (member)
Tennesseans for the Arts (member)
Tennessee Historical Commission
MTSU Center for Historic Preservation
VISIT WWW.SGTYORK.ORG • CALL 931-347-2664 • E-MAIL SYPFDIRECTOR@GMAIL.COM
SYPF 2010 Accomplishments
1. Completed $1 million stabilization and remediation of the original 1920s York
Institute, now ready for adaptive reuse as educational multipurpose facility with
major support from The Willard and Ruth Johnson Foundation, Ward Correll, Next
Generation Underwriters, the Tennessee Historical Commission, John Nolan, The
Kentucky Christian Foundation and many other contributors.
2. Implemented Tennessee Trailblazer's Tour connecting Cordell Hull and Alvin C.
York State Parks, providing interpretive audiovisual aides, signage and displays for
each site using $50,000 grant from the Appalachian Regional Commission.
3. Began digitization/archiving of York’s papers and audio recordings with a grant
from Next Generation Underwriters.
4. Cosponsored with Eagle Scout Benjamin Johnson restoration and enhancements
of York Nature Trail; produced guide brochure.
5. Enhanced York General Store Visitor Center with new video orientation
equipment, redesigned use of display and exhibit space and launched a store
blog at www.yorkgeneralstore.blogspot.com.
6. Designed, printed and distributed 15,000 brochures to promote free daily tours
and York General Store Visitor Center.
7. Upgraded WWI and York-related merchandise in York General Store Visitor
Center.
8. Published “A Sketch of Life as it Was” written by Sgt. York.
9. Designed, printed and distributed 1,000 brochures promoting restoration of York
Institute.
10. Worked with Tennessee Department of Transportation to achieve placement of
Interstate 40 signs at Highway 127 directing traffic to York State Park.
11. Selected for participation in “This Place Matters” with National Trust for
Historic Preservation to nationally promote restoration of historic York Institute.
12. Underwent voluntary, comprehensive audit by independent auditor.
13. Selected as host for the Smithsonian’s Museums on Mainstreet traveling exhibit
“How We Worked” April 28- June 2, 2012, at Progressive Savings Bank in
Jamestown, Tenn.
14. Completed profile for Guidestar for review by potential members and donors
accessible at http://givingmatters.guidestar.org/NonprofitProfile.aspx?
OrgId=1064405
SYPF 2011 Goals
1. Increase membership in SYPF
2. Raise funds for restoration and adaptive reuse of York Institute as a multiuse
educational facility
3. Increase York home/farm visitation and develop/host exhibits
4. Host youth and adult educational, historic, military and arts events for students,
veterans and public
5. Publish out-of-print WWI books and York archival materials
6. Develop virtual tours on Web of Sgt. York home for educators worldwide
7. Increase pledges and donations from individuals and organizations for
operations and initiatives
8. Increase pursuit of grants, both foundation and governmental
1
SYPF Membership Benefits for 2011 – Please renew or join today
Music
at Yo
A Sketch of Life as it Was by Sgt. Alvin C. York rk Ge
n e ra l
Store

This 28-page book includes more than two dozen original photographs and the original
manuscript written by Sgt. York about his childhood, youth, family and religious conversion. A
keepsake, it is printed in black & white on gloss paper. During 2011 this beautiful book is a free
gift with a Corporal membership and may be substituted as your gift for membership
levels above Corporal upon request.
and Food
Fellowship

Included in A Sketch of Life

as it Was is a history of Sgt.
York’s struggle to build York
Institute in the 1920s and keep
i t o p e n b y D r. M i c h a e l
Birdwell.

This certifies that

Claudia Johnson

C o r p o ra l : M e m b e r s h i p
is a member of the

Sergeant York Patriotic Foundation To join, renew or give the gift of membership please send
Founded in 1993 as a nonprofit corporation funded by voluntary contributions,
Certificate, “Sergeant York
the Foundation serves to continue historical research,
to preserve the Sgt. York home place, farm and artifacts, a check to SYPF, 1010 Christmas Lane, Cookeville, TN
to restore historic York Institute, to improve education and
to perpetuate the legacy of the greatest hero of World War I. Says” and the book, A 38501 & include name, shipping address, telephone, email
1 December 2011
MEMBERSHIP RENEWABLE SGT. ALVIN C YORK
Sketch of Life as it Was by & desired membership level. For information visit
Sgt. York, $100 www.sgtyork.org or call Executive Director Claudia
Recruit: Membership Johnson at 931.347.2664 or email
C e r t i fi c a t e a n d t h e sypfdirector@gmail.com.
“ S e r g e a n t Yo r k S a y s ” For information about purchasing these items, visit
Journal, $25 www.yorkgeneralstore.blogspot.com or call 931.879.3657.

Col. G. Edward Buxton:

Membership Certificate,
“Sergeant York Says,” set of
12 pen&ink notecards and
a York Grist Mill watercolor
Private: Membership print signed by artist Bill
Certificate, “Sergeant York
Maffett, $250
Says”, set of 12 pen&ink
notecards depicting scenes S e r g e a n t : C e r t i fi c a t e ,
associated with Sgt. York’s “ S e r g e a n t Yo r k S ay s ,”
life or T-shirt (styles may History of the AEF book
vary), $50 and Sgt. York DVD, $500

Medal of Honor:
Membership Certificate,
“Sergeant York Says,” copy
of Sgt. York DVD, History
of the AEF book & a Sgt.
York print signed by artist
Butch Hodgkins and Sgt.
York’s children, $1,000

VISIT WWW.SGTYORK.ORG • CALL 931-347-2664 • E-MAIL SYPFDIRECTOR@GMAIL.COM

2
This excerpt was clipped from the
original manuscript of a radio
speech presented live from
Chicago, Ill., in 1941 and remains
relevant in todayʼs world.

Guitar Picks Depict York Scenes

Created exclusively for York General Store & Visitor
9
$9.9x Center this high quality set of five guitar picks depict
scenes from Sgt. York’s story: grave, home, mill, patch and
+ ta military photograph. The boxed set is suitable for framing
or for using to play an instrument.

York General Store & Visitor

Center is the first stop for
visitors to Pall Mall &
Sgt. York State Park
offering a
free orientation film, tourist
information, deli, snacks, Sgt.
York gifts, books, prints,
postcards, T-shirts, collectibles
and more.
All proceeds benefit the SYPF
& York Visitor Center.
Any store item may be ordered
for mail delivery
Sgt. York 12” Limited by calling 931-879-3657
Edition Action Figure or email
$19.99+tax&s/h yorkgeneralstore@gmail.com.
Through Dec. 15, 2010
Regularly $29.95

Adaptive Reuse Planned for Historic York Institute

HELP SAVE SGT. YORK’S
A major project of the SYPF is the preservation of York Institute,
HISTORIC SCHOOL built by Sgt. York and acquired by the SYPF in 2008. Remediation and
All donations are appreciated stabilization was achieved in 2009 with funds raised from grants and
private donors. The Foundation requires an additional $100,000 to
onal
Regis
ter o
f
complete payments for this work. Tax-deductible donations earmarked for
Nati laces
ric P
Histo
this project are requested.
An additional $5-6 million will be necessary for restoration and
adaptive reuse as a multipurpose educational facility. The restored original
York Institute building will be a center for teaching and research, as well as
Sgt.
Patr
iotic a venue for showcasing culture, the arts and history. Collaborative
York n
F un
o datio
Pro je ct partnerships with colleges, technology centers and arts, history and
in its early days
York Institute as it appeared cultural organizations will carry forth the legacy of Sgt. York.
York Institute during period
of In 2010 the SYPF’s goals for this project will include raising of
neglect, 1979-2008 money to pay off debts associated with remediation and stabilization of
historic building, development of a comprehensive long-range adaptive
reuse plan and finalization and implementation of a fundraising plan.
When completed the building will make WWI and York research materials
and
York Institute after remediation available to scholars; deliver higher/advanced educational opportunities to
stabilization, 2010, ready for
preservation and adaptive reuse all age groups in an economically disadvantaged region; expose arts,
sciences, lectures, exhibits, history and culture to local/regional
Tax
c tible 100% of donations used for rehabilitation population; and become a destination for Veterans, academics and
Dedu
www.sgtyork.org or 931.347.2664 historians.
Donate today! Donations may be mailedBridge
to 1010viewed from
Christmas Lane,Grist Mill TN
Cookeville,
38501 % SYPF Executive Director Claudia Johnson.

VISIT WWW.SGTYORK.ORG • CALL 931-347-2664 • E-MAIL SYPFDIRECTOR@GMAIL.COM

3
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931-879-3657
Call York General Store for Details
March 25-26, 2011
Sgt. York Memorial Black Powder Shoot
Dec. 11, 2010
Christmas in the Valley
Upcoming Free Events
Pall Mall, TN 38577
P.O. Box 100
Sgt. York Patriotic Foundation
York  State  Park  invites  you  to  experience  the  world  of  Sgt.  Alvin  C.  York.  Open  year-­round.
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Panel Design by Lovelady Graphics, Byrdstown, TN

Alvin C. York during WWI at Camp Gordon
with his friend, Pvt. Carl F. Swanson
York wanted to re-enlist for WWII service, but
his efforts were best utilized on the home front
TENNESSEE
STATE PARKS
Alvin C. York WWI Congressional Medal of Honor winner York with WWII
State Historic Park Medal of Honor Winners
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from York Institute during WWII