The Legend of the Cherokee Rose
President Andrew Jackson, whose life was saved by 500 Cherokee allies in the Battle of Horseshoe Bend in 1814, ruthlessly authorized the Indian Removal Act of 1830.
Under Jackson's orders in 1838, thousands upon thousands of Cherokee people were forced to leave their sacred homeland, as they were pushed into western territory, which eventually was mostly taken from them as well by the new American people. (But how many Americans today can be convinced that this was an act of genocide?)
It is known that the mother's of the Cherokee children were feeling so much pain, and were crying so much, that their sadness disallowed them the ability to take care of their children. The Elders saw this, and they prayed that the Cherokee women would somehow find the strength to protect their children, and themselves from the dangers of their forced journey. They asked for a sign that would give the women a sense of strength.
The next day, a beautiful rose began to grow in every place that the mothers' tears had fallen. The prayers had been answered, but this wasn't enough to save the many thousands of children who ultimately died on the Cherokee Trail of Tears.
The petals of the rose are white, for the Cherokee women's tears. The yellow center is a symbol of the gold that was stolen from the Cherokee, and seven leaves on each stem represent each of the seven Cherokee clans. The flower continues to grow along the route of the trail today.
(Info partially provided by the Cherokee Messenger)
Thank you!
