"There are a lot of people that don't even know this place exists."
Some of Eckley's earliest memories were made sitting in the shadow of General Grant.
"This is home; this is just like living down in the Valley to me because I spent every summer here."
Eckley's here every Fourth of July to celebrate her late husband, Ormond Eckley's life.
"He was such a buff in Civil War, any kind of history."
On this day nine years ago, Eckley spread his ashes behind the famous tree named after General Ulysses S. Grant-- a man he loved and admired.
"What Grant did is something fantastic; he always had his troops behind him."
Eckley covers up her tears with laughter, remembering the husband she lost and why she comes back every year.
"Just as a reminder, that's all and love."
A love story in a forest-- packed with patriotic people on a busy summer day.
It is stories like Eckley's that make this place such a valuable piece of America's history. If you want to learn more, just know, there are many others with the same idea and the park will be packed throughout the summer.