About Us
Welcome to the NEW Friends of Raymond Website!
On behalf of the board and membership of the Friends of Raymond, let me be the first to welcome you to our new website. The Friends of Raymond (FOR) is an all-volunteer organization founded in 1998 to preserve and protect important historic sites around the beautiful town of Raymond, Mississippi.
Friends of Raymond’s most visible project is the preservation, protection, and interpretation of the original site of the Battle of Raymond (May 12, 1863), an important part of General Ulysses S. Grant’s Vicksburg campaign during the Civil War. By working closely with the City of Raymond, the Mississippi Department, of Archives and History, the Vicksburg National Military Park, and the American Battlefield Trust, the Friends of Raymond has purchased, removed from development, and protected over _______ acres of original battlefield. The FOR goal is to permanently protect the battlefield from development by making it a part of the Vicksburg National Military Park. All the historic preservation efforts for this beautiful and historic area depends completely on memberships, donations, and sponsors.
The mission of the FOR goes beyond battlefield preservation. As an organization, we are committed to working with the City of Raymond and other local entities to preserve our rich local history. Currently, the FOR is coordinating a community-wide effort to create a mural for downtown Raymond showcasing the rich history of the square and downtown area.
The Friends of Raymond are also committed to historical education and preservation.
The Friends of Raymond is 501c3 charity governed by a nine-member Board of Directors elected by the FOR membership. All work is done by volunteers – there is no paid staff or administrative costs that are not used to directly support the organization.
We invite you to join Friends of Raymond as we seek to preserve important local pieces of Mississippi history for the education of visitors from around the world. Visit our MEMBERSHIP page to fill out a form and join us in our efforts, or click on the DONATE page for more information about how to donate to the Friends of Raymond.