Happy July 4 from the Friends of Kennesaw Mountain!
America 250 is not just a commemoration of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, but a chance to look back on the story of America as a whole. Kennesaw Mountain and other Civil War battlefields like us are an important part of that story, as the war brought freedom to millions and redefined what freedom and liberty mean.
To help celebrate America 250, we hope you will consider donating to us this Fourth of July weekend. Any amount, from $2.50 to $250, helps to support our mission of protecting Kennesaw Mountain. You can do so online here:
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park recently hosted a Track Chair event in partnership with All-Terrain Georgia and Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, giving four young visitors the chance to experience the park’s roads and trails in a new way.
Before the event, Mike Collett, board member and trail director for Friends of Kennesaw Mountain, previewed the terrain to help ensure it was accessible and volunteered to lead the hike that day.
“I had never seen the Track Chairs operate, and it was amazing,” Mike said. “The experience of being with these kids having freedom on the trails in the park left me feeling very good.”
Thank you to Kennesaw Mountain, All-Terrain Georgia, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta, and Mike for creating a memorable day for these young visitors.
Events like this reflect the importance of keeping park trails welcoming and well maintained for all visitors.
Friends of Kennesaw Mountain volunteers help maintain and improve the trails at the park. A monthly workday is held every 2nd Saturday. Friends also support school education trips and hikes, trail enhancements, history reenactments, community programs, and fundraising events for the park. Want to help or donate? www.friendsofkmnbp.org
Thank you to everyone who came to Cannons, Brews, and Tunes yesterday! We had a great time at Glover Park Brewery with Sons-n-Britches and Pizza by Fusco’s watching the US play in the World Cup!
Friends of Kennesaw Mountain volunteers help maintain and improve the trails at the park. A monthly workday is held every 2nd Saturday. Friends also support school education trips and hikes, trail enhancements, history reenactments, community programs, and fundraising events for the park. Want to help or donate? www.friendsofkmnbp.org
June 27, 2026, was the 162nd anniversary of the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain. To commemorate the event, the National Park Service hosted living history programs, guided hikes, and educational programs on the weekend of June 27 and 28. The Friends of Kennesaw Mountain was proud to support this special event. Photos from the weekend can be found below.
Mike Collett attended the National Park Foundation (NPF) meeting in Washington on April 28 and 29. Hill Day is an annual meeting of NPF partners (A funding raising organization is a partner, thus, the Friends of Kennesaw is a partner) and members of Congress. This year’s meeting started with a tour on Tuesday, April 28 of the Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts in Vienna, VA by the National Parks Friends Alliance (NPFA).
After the tour a Meet and Greet was held at the Department of Interior’s Penthouse. NPF assigns an NPF guide to the partners to help them prepare for the meeting scheduled by NPF with their Representatives and Senators. Mike was assigned to Hollis Hughes, Associate Vice President, Strategic Partnership Growth, Corporate Partnerships. Hollis reviewed Mike’s presentation and ensured he navigated through the Congressional and Senatorial Offices in time to attend his scheduled meetings. The Meeting and Greet also gave partners a chance to meet other members of the NPF staff and members from other Parks. Hollis introduced Mike to her boss Chad Jones, Senior Vice President, Corporate Partnerships.
Wednesday, April 29 started with breakfast and a welcome from the senior leadership of the NPF at a meeting room in the Cannon House Office Building. After breakfast Mike and Hollis reviewed this presentation. The presentation covered funding issues of concern with both the NPF and NPF partners. A short presentation of the partners park and a two-way question and answer section. The meeting may have one or more partners attending.
The first meeting was with Congressman Barry Loudermilk’s Legislative Assistant, George Copelan. Also in attendance was Brittany Jones, of the Chattahoochee National Park Conservancy and her guide Caroline Cook.
After lunch Mike’s next meeting was with Congressman Andrew Clyde’s Legislative Assistant Larson Upchurch. Also attending was Max Raphelson of the Appalachian Trail Foundation and his NPF guide Karen Culerland.
After this meeting Mike and Hollis went to their meeting with Senator Raphael Warnock’s Legislative Correspondent James Ziegeweid. At this meeting and the next all four of the Georgia parks in attending were in attendance. Katharyne Gabriel NPF Council Member, Chief of Coca-Cola HR, North America, Chad Jones, Adrienne Wojciechowski, Director Federal and Diplomatic Affairs Coca-Cola, Brittany Jones and Caroline Cook, Fred Boules, Friends of Andersonville, and Tricia King Mins Partners of Chickamauga, Chattanooga, and Moccasin Bend.
From there they headed for a meeting with Senator Jon Ossoff’s Legislative Correspondent Alejandro Quinones-Schoene. All of those attending Senator Warnock’s meeting also attended this meeting.
After four productive and mentally exhausting meetings we had a break of just over an hour in the Russell Senate Office Building meeting room before our finial event.
The day ended with a reception at The Observatory at America at America’s Square. This gave us a chance to talk and share experiences with other partners we met and review the day with NPF staff that were not part of our meetings.
In summary 86 partners attended this event with 286 meetings consisting of 133 attendees. Unfortunately, only 55 Representees or Senators attended a meeting.
This month, the National Park Foundation is celebrating #AllforParks, a nationwide effort to promote the valuable role fundraising and volunteering play in our country’s public land. Partners from across the country are uniting and declaring that we are all for parks, a movement for our park community to take action to support the parks we all love.
Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park is unique in the Atlanta area, blending the site of a historic battle of the Civil War with the conservation of a scenic green space. Protecting this special space is the responsibility of everyone, whether they are rangers, visitors, volunteers, or others. The Friends of Kennesaw Mountain plays an important role in this stewardship by promoting the park’s mission, reaching out to the community, and helping make essential work at the park possible.
We know you love our parks as much as we do, and hope you will turn that love into action with the Friends of Kennesaw Mountain. Your support will help protect trails and wildlife, preserve history, and ensure these incredible places are here for the next generation to explore and love.
On May 3, we will be hosting the first-ever Big Bird Day in partnership with Birds Georgia. Kennesaw Mountain is a great vantage point for spotting birds during the spring migration north. Millions of birds pass through on their journey. Come on out to listen, learn and enjoy the park!
More details about this event will be coming soon. Keep an eye on our event page for more information.
Our park community mourns the loss of Jay Haney, who passed away peacefully on January 15, 2026, surrounded by his devoted wife, Anne Page, and their children. His life was defined by generosity, leadership, and a deep love for the outdoors—a spirit that will forever remain part of Kennesaw Mountain.
Though his passing was sudden and heartbreaking, his memory will live on through the countless ways he touched our lives and contributed to Kennesaw Mountain NBP, Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club, and the Friends of Kennesaw Mountain. His love for the outdoors was evident in everything he did. Alongside Anne Page, he spent countless hours hiking and working to preserve the beauty of our trails.
Jay joined the Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club in 2007, and at the same time became a park volunteer. Over the years, he served in many roles— Trail Ambassador, KMTC board member, and even KMTC historian. In recent years, he continued to support the Friends of Kennesaw Mountain through special projects, even as he and Anne Page began to scale back their on-site volunteering.
His contributions went far beyond trail work. He assisted with park interpretive programs, helping visitors connect with the rich history and natural beauty of Kennesaw Mountain. Known for his attention to detail, he produced reports that were as thorough and precise as any military briefing—a reflection of his disciplined background. He monitored trail conditions, wrote grant proposals to secure funding, and supported countless initiatives that strengthened our community. He was quick to share his knowledge and served as a mentor to several individuals over the years, guiding and inspiring others to give their best. His versatility and dedication made him an invaluable asset to both the park and the Kennesaw Mountain Trail Club, lending his talents wherever they were needed.
Beyond his service to the park, Jay Haney led an extraordinary life. A graduate of West Point and a retired Lieutenant Colonel, he served with distinction in Vietnam. After his military career, he retired from Bank of America (formerly C&S Atlanta), leaving behind a legacy of leadership and integrity.
Those who knew him will remember his kindness, warmth, and unwavering decency. He and Anne Page were a joy to be around, and many of us treasure the memories we shared with them.
Jay Haney was truly one of a kind, and his impact on our community will never be forgotten.
“What we have once enjoyed we can never lose. All that we love deeply becomes a part of us.” – Helen Keller
Our next wine tasting benefit is on November 5! Join us at the Marietta Wine Market for door prizes, light snacks, and a chance to meet fellow friends!
The wine tasting costs $10, and five door prize tickets can be purchased for $20.
KENNESAW, GA- Over the weekend, Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park staff worked to remove graffiti and burn marks associated with the recent defacement of the park’s iconic Illinois Monument and grave site of the unknown soldier.
“I am grateful for the expeditious actions of the park staff to clean the vandalized areas. While impacts to the sites appear minimal, these illegal acts of vandalism hurt and degrade the experiences of visitors, and repairs, if possible, can be time consuming and costly,” said Patrick Gamman, superintendent for Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park.
The vandalism was reported last Friday morning by park staff and volunteers. Damage included drawn graffiti on the Illinois Monument, black carbon deposits on the grave site and charred remains of two American flags, which did not belong to the park.
“We take vandalism incidents seriously in the park, and we encourage anyone with information to reach out to us as the investigation continues,” Gamman said.
Anyone with information that could aid this investigation is asked to contact investigators through the following means: NOTE: Use is restricted to investigative tips ONLY and should not be used to offer general comments or opinions.
