Champion family descendants and local residents gathered under the shade of an old oak tree at Champion Hill Missionary Baptist Church in Edwards on Tuesday along with officials from state and federal agencies to celebrate the Champion Hill Battlefield joining the National Park Service.

A pivotal battle of the Civil War and campaign for Vicksburg in 1863, the acquisition of Champion Hill Battlefield by the park service will add about 800 acres to Vicksburg National Military Park for historical preservation and interpretation.

Superintendent Bill Justice of the Vicksburg National Park welcomed guests to the grounds saying, 'It's appropriate we have this on the site of the battle of Champion Hill, which is also a church, because so many men fought here and many died, right here, to create the future of our country."

The expansion of Vicksburg National Military Park, which will also include Port Gibson and Raymond battlefields, was authorized by Congress in 2014. A capital campaign has been launched by Friends of Vicksburg National Military Park and Campaign to raise $3 million for the construction of future visitor facilities at the three sites as well as support for historical interpretation of the battlefields.

Bob Vogel, Southeastern regional director of the National Park Service, noted, "The transfer marks the largest expansion in the 120-year history of the Vicksburg National Military Park."