“Outlander” author appears to help commemorate 250th anniversary of the Battle at Moores Creek Bridge

PENDER COUNTY, NC (WWAY)– “It’s just been an emotional trip to be here”

Those were the emotional words Marti Sawyer, a super fan of Diana Gabaldon, said after meeting her at a book signing at the Penderlea auditorium.

To help celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Battle at Moores Creek Bridge, Gabaldon… the author of “Outlander”, appeared in a packed-out crowd.

She signed books, and gave speeches to fans about her books, and the historic event that happened 250 years ago at the battlefield.

Sawyer became a fan as a child after the countless times her mother read the book to her.

“My mom read her books since 1991. My mom was a fan. I came to the books late, my mother is no longer with me,” said Sawyer.

She says it was great to see her hero and see the parts in the book where the battle at Moores Creek Bridge took place.

“I read the entire book to just get to the pages of Moores Creek Battlefield. I am a big historian, and I like to go travel to all the historic sites anyways,” said Sawyer. “It’s really neat to see the re-enactors and to know how hard that would have been to see highlander against highlander.”

That was just the main event, as there was also a wreath-laying ceremony at the Grady Monument, and ribbon cutting ceremony to unveil new exhibits inside the visitor center.

The event honored the soldiers who fought and sacrificed here nearly 250 years ago, and Private John Grady, the first North Carolinian who died on this battlefield for America’s independence.

Jason Collins is the chief of interpreters for the battlefield and says bringing the story of Grady into the light, sends a powerful message.

“For our little park here in southeastern North Carolina, we’re kind of a beaten path a little bit, but to know there are folks coming here from Texas, Indiana, Georgia, Virginia, and all over the place, just coming to our little park to pay tribute to John Grady and the other patriots is kind of awe-inspiring in a way,” said Collins.