Support For Expanding Trail Of Tears

Monday, May 1st 2006, 9:25 am

By: News On 6

CLAREMORE, Okla. (AP) _ The president of the Oklahoma chapter of the Trail of Tears Association says expanding the trail would complete the story of Indians who were forced to march on it.

Curtis Rohr of Claremore says two of his great-grandfathers were among the 75,000 Indians who were forced in 1838 to march from the southeastern US to what is now Oklahoma. About 4,000 died.

About 2,200 miles of land and water along the trail are now recognized.

About 2,000 more miles would be studied and possibly added to the trail under bill pending in Congress.

Rohr says the Trail of Tears is more than just a story, but is a real event in history that younger generations need to be aware of.