“In 1972 the Georgia Natural Resources Commission decided to commemorate the lost prisoners of Andersonville and accordingly instituted a state-wide competition among sculptors. 

William Thompson, Professor of Art at the University of Georgia, won that contest with his design for a tableau of three figures, and by 1975 the clay of the original model was ready for the foundry—for its translation into bronze to become what is now known as The Andersonville Memorial.

The Memorial was to transcend local history and stand as a monument to all American prisoners—perhaps all prisoners—in all wars. The work was, also, to have a secondary but no less important function. It was to function as a healing talisman—not only between North and South—but for people everywhere... “ 

—Graham Collier