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Friends of the Fredericksburg Area Battlefields
Promoting Preservation Through Education

SUMMER 2000 NEWSLETTER

FoFAB has been engaged in preservation efforts on the following battlefields:
Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, Spotsylvania Court House, Aquia Landing, 
Cedar Mountain, Mine Run, Trevilian Station

Calendar of Events

Eighth Annual
Preserving Virginia's Civil War Heritage Workshop
November 11-12, 2000

The Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB) is pleased to have the opportunity to host the eighth annual Preserving Virginia’s Civil War Heritage Workshop in conjunction with the Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table (RVCWRT) on Veterans’ Day weekend. RVCWRT hosted the first seven workshops which have proved to be very successful in providing information on local battlefield preservation efforts while helping to raise funds to save some of the most threatened battlefield sites in our region. When the RVCWRT executive committee considered taking a well-deserved break from the workshop this year, the FoFAB board volunteered to step in to help continue the annual workshop.

The format of this year’s workshop will be similar to the format used when the workshops first began. The Saturday agenda will consist of four lectures followed by a banquet with a guest speaker. The two morning sessions will concentrate on the "how-to’s" of battlefield acquisition. The two afternoon sessions will discuss the nuts-and-bolts of battlefield interpretation. With this dual emphasis, battlefield groups at all levels can benefit from this workshop. On Sunday, workshop participants will have the opportunity to take a bus tour following the actions of South Carolina troops in the battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Spotsylvania Court House; affording participants the rare opportunity to get an overview of three major battlefields in one tour.

All proceeds from the Preserving Virginia’s Civil War Heritage Workshop will be donated to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust to assist in their efforts to acquire Myers Hill on the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield. For more details about the conference, please see the registration form inside this newsletter.

Battlefield Interpretation at Cedar Mountain

Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB) is pleased to welcome Janelle Kennedy as a new intern. Janelle is an American Studies major at Mary Washington College. She has also served as a seasonal Civil War Historian/Interpreter at the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park and worked for Eastern National (the park bookstores).

Janelle will be responsible for developing a battlefield interpretation plan for the portion of the Cedar Mountain battlefield owned by the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT). The interpretation plan will include the following three items (1) a site map detailing the location of parking, trails, signs, or any other features at the battlefield, (2) text and graphics for interpretive signs or any other markers for the site, and (3) a revised site bulletin ready for printing.

This internship is made possible by a partnership between FoFAB, CWPT, Partners in Parks, and the American Battlefield Protection Program (ABPP). Janelle’s stipend will be paid by Partners in Parks through a grant from ABPP. The Cedar Mountain battlefield interpretation plan is the fifth FoFAB project funded by Partners in Parks and ABPP. Past projects included historic research on the battles of Aquia Landing, Mine Run, and Trevilian Station. Statements of significance for the battles of Aquia Landing, Mine Run, and Trevilian Station; and two community outreach and capacity building internships designed to help FoFAB increase its ability to promote battlefield preservation efforts in the local community.

Once the interpretation plan is completed and approved by CWPT, FoFAB hopes to continue its partnership with CWPT by raising funds to implement the plan at the battlefield. If you would like to assist us in our efforts at Cedar Mountain, or if you would like more information on other internship or volunteer opportunities with FoFAB, please feel free to contact us via the mailing address, e-mail address, fax, or phone number listed on the front of this newsletter. We welcome your involvement in maintaining and interpreting this significant Civil War site.

Junior Ranger Programs Offered at National Park

In July, the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park began offering two Junior Ranger programs designed for young people ages 9 through 12. The purpose of the programs is to help the next generation understand the importance of the events which took place in the Fredericksburg area during the Civil War. The Park Service reports that the programs have already been highly successful.

The first Junior Ranger booklet is "Fredericksburg Battlefield and Chatham". The second booklet covers "Chancellorsville and Jackson Shrine". Both booklets were compiled by volunteer hours provided through Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields. Lee Ann Williams, FoFAB Education Coordinator, supervised this project. Janice Frye, a Civil War Historian and Education Coordinator for the park, and Elsa Lohman, a Civil War Historian at the park, assisted in the development of these booklets. The Branch - Lane’s Brigade Memorial Fund provided startup funding for the project, and Eastern National provided funding for the publishing. Both booklets are available for $3 each at Eastern National bookstore outlets in the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

Participants can earn a Junior Ranger badge for Fredericksburg and/or Chancellorsville by completing the activities listed in the Junior Ranger booklets. Activities include visiting the battlefields and museums, attending guided walking tours, hiking interpreted trails, and completing questions and games in the booklets.

Fredericksburg National Cemetary Luminaria

On Friday, May 27 seventh grade students from Fredericksburg Christian School placed an American flag in front of each grave in the Fredericksburg National Cemetery. On Saturday, May 28, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts spent the day placing small white paper bags in the cemetery on either side of every grave. Each bag contained a zip-lock bag filled with sand (to weigh the bag down) and one candle. Before the cemetery gates opened at 8:00 p.m., Scouts scurried around the cemetery lighting the candles. Others took their place at one of the six stops on the cemetery tour designed to provide information about the cemetery and those who are buried there.

As soon as the gates were opened, hundreds of visitors streamed through to get their first glimpse of the beautiful tribute. Once they reached the top of the hill at Marye’s Heights, the sight of approximately 16,000 candles was awe-inspiring. Even with hundreds of people on the hill, a quiet hush came over the entire cemetery once each half-hour as the sound of Taps filled the air.

Visitors who took the time to walk the cemetery tour and listen to the interpreters received much more than the visual beauty of this tribute. Interpreters gave not only statistics about when the cemetery was opened (1866), or how many people are buried there (15,333), but gave real life stories of the brave men to whom this spot is a final resting-place. Those who took the tour and listened to the stories quickly came to realize that these candles represented far more than just the beauty of the evening. Each candle represented a real person, who willingly sacrificed his life so that we might live free. Each candle represented a son, a husband, a father, who would never return home. Each candle represented the sacrifice of a family who had lost a loved one. With these thoughts in mind, many visitors had to choke back tears as they looked on this visual reminder of the sacrifice others have made for us and the generations to follow.

The final tour stop was near the grave of Jerome Pierce of Massachusetts. He was killed on May 12, 1864 at the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House leaving behind a 29-year-old widow and a daughter 3 or 4 years old. Mrs. Pierce sent a $100 check to Andrew Birdsall, the cemetery attendant, and asked that he use the money to place flowers on the grave regularly. To this day, his family still places flowers on his grave each Memorial Day. But even more fitting than the flowers, is the phrase on the card which accompanies the flowers. It reads, "Once lost, now found, never forgotten."

The purpose of the Luminaria is to ensure that we might never forget the sacrifices that others have made for our freedoms. This program has quickly grown to become one of the most attended Memorial Day weekend programs in the region. The first Luminaria was held in 1997. Fifteen hundred people attended. In 1998 nearly 3,000 people attended. Last year 6,766 people paid tribute to our veterans by attending the Luminaria, making this the most attended event in the 73-year history of the Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park. Despite steady rains throughout the weekend, over 4,500 visitors toured the Fredericksburg National Cemetery during the Memorial Day Weekend Luminaria this year.

The Luminaria is intended to honor the sacrifices of veterans of all American wars. We are thankful for the several hundred students and scouts who worked so diligently to make this event possible. It is our hope that by participating in this tribute today, they will remember tomorrow the sacrifices which others made for our freedoms, and that they would in turn teach that message to the next generation.

Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields is honored to have had the opportunity to participate in the planning of the Luminaria and serve as the fiscal agent for the Luminaria for the past three years. This event is funded with donations from individuals, organizations, and businesses. If you would like to know how you can help sponsor the Luminaria in 2001, please contact us at 13100 Wilderness Park Drive, Spotsylvania, VA 22553-8220, phone (540) 972-9954, fax (540) 972-3521, e-mail: robwilliams@erols.com. We would welcome your support.

Preserving Virginia's Civil War Heritage Workshop
November 11-12, 2000 (Veterans' Day Weekend)
Howard Johnson’s, 5327 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Spotsylvania, Virginia
(I-95 Exit # 126, Massaponax Exit)
Sponsored by Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB)
in conjunction with the
Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table (RVCWRT)
Conference Chairman: Tom Quigley

Saturday, November 11, 2000
08:30 - 09:00 Registration and Continental Breakfast
09:00 - 09:15 Welcome
09:15 - 10:30 Session I - Land Acquisition Strategy
Enos Richardson, Former President, Central Virginia Battlefields Trust
10:30 - 10:45 Morning Break
10:45 - 12:00 Session II - Land Acquisition Funding
Paul Pritchard, President, National Park Trust
12:00 - 01:00 Lunch
01:00 - 02:15 Session III - Battlefield Interpretation Planning
John Hennessy, Asst. Superintendent, Fredericksburg & Spotsylvania NMP
02:15 - 02:30 Afternoon Break
02:30 - 03:45 Session IV - Museum Exhibit Planning
Ritchie Jacobs, Graphics Manager, Creative Dimensions Group
03:45 - 04:00 Closing Remarks/Workshop Evaluation
06:00 - 08:00 Banquet with Civil War Historian and Author, Donald Pfanz
Aunt Sarah’s Pancake House, 5426 Jefferson Davis Hwy, Spotsylvania, VA
(Massaponax Outlet Mall, I-95 Exit # 126 -Massaponax Exit)

Sunday, November 12, 2000
8:00 am – 5:00 pm Bus Tour,
South Carolinians in the Battles of Fredericksburg, Chancellorsville, and Spotsylvania Court House, led by Civil War historian and author Mac Wyckoff.

Saturday Seminars Only - $50
Saturday Evening Banquet - $20
Sunday Bus Tour - $50
Total Conference Package - $100

We have reserved rooms at the Howard Johnson’s for those who wish to stay overnight. To make a reservation, please call (540) 898-1800. Be sure to mention you are attending the workshop to get the discounted room rate.

Please note that all workshop functions are limited to 40 participants (seminars, banquet, and bus tour). Please get your reservations in early to ensure you do not miss this opportunity.

Proceeds from the Preserving Virginia’s Civil War Heritage Workshop (including the Saturday training sessions, Saturday evening banquet, Sunday bus tour, and Civil War book and print raffles) will be donated to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust to assist them in their efforts to purchase Myers Hill site on the Spotsylvania Court House battlefield.

For more information, please contact FoFAB at 13100 Wilderness Park Drive, Spotsylvania, VA 22553-8220 Phone (540) 972-9954 Fax (540) 972-3521 Email: robwilliams@erols.com

 

RESERVATION FORM

Preserving Virginia's Civil War Heritage Workshop
November 11-12, 2000 (Veterans' Day Weekend)
Howard Johnson’s, 5327 Jefferson Davis Hwy., Spotsylvania, Virginia
(I-95 Exit # 126, Massaponax Exit)
Sponsored by Friends of Fredericksburg Area Battlefields (FoFAB)
in conjunction with the
Rappahannock Valley Civil War Round Table (RVCWRT)
Conference Chairman: Tom Quigley

Yes! Please sign me up for the Preserving Virginia’s Civil War Heritage Workshop being held in Spotsylvania, November 11 and 12. Enclosed is my check for the following workshop functions:

_____ Saturday Seminars Only - $50

_____ Saturday Evening Banquet - $20

_____ Sunday Bus Tour - $50

_____ Total Conference Package - $100 (Best Value!)

_____ I am sorry I cannot attend the workshop this year, but enclosed is my donation to assist with your efforts to help the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust purchase Myers Hill.

(Donations are tax -deductible to the fullest extent of the law.)

Reservations Deadline: Friday, November 3, 2000
Please mail reservation forms and checks to
FoFAB, 13100 Wilderness Park Drive, Spotsylvania, VA 22553-8220

Name ______________________________________________________

Address ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Phone______________________________________________________

 

"In the end, our society will be defined not only by what we create but by what we refuse to destroy."
 - John Sawhill

If you feel as we do, we invite you to join in our efforts.

 


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13100 Wilderness Park Drive, Spotsylvania, VA 22553-8220
Phone: (540) 972-9954 Fax: (540) 972-3521
 
robwilliams@erols.com



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