The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT), the nation's largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization, is accepting nominations for its annual report on endangered Civil War battlefields. The report, entitled History Under Siege, identifies the most threatened Civil War sites in the United States and what can be done to rescue them.
"Too often the threats to our priceless historical treasures go unnoticed," noted CWPT President James Lighthizer. "This report is a rallying cry to the nation, a powerful reminder that our hallowed battlefields are in imminent danger."
History Under Siege is part of CWPT's ongoing effort to protect America's remaining Civil War battlefields. Every day 30 acres of hallowed ground associated with Civil War battlefields fall victim to development, succumbing to the backhoe and the bulldozer. Once lost, these historic treasures can never be replaced.
The 2009 endangered battlefields report will be released next Spring in Washington, D.C. Any Civil War battlefield is eligible to for nomination and consideration. The ten chosen sites will be selected based on geographic location, military significance and the immediacy of current threats.
"From Pennsylvania to New Mexico, the battlefields where the Civil War was fought are under siege," Lighthizer remarked. "Nominations from concerned citizens, history buffs and preservation activists help us stay aware of the most current threats to a wide variety of battlefields."
Among the ten sites identified in the 2008 report were Antietam, Maryland; Cedar Creek, Virginia; Perryville, Kentucky; and Spring Hill, Tennessee. The report also mentioned ten "at risk" battlefields that, although seriously threatened, did not make the final ten. Each year, the report raises public awareness of the threats to historic sites, leading to victories for preservationists. "Thanks in part to the publicity generated by the report, we expect continued successes in the remainder of the year and in the future," Lighthizer predicted.
Individuals and groups are encouraged to fill out the nomination form available online at www.civilwar.org/mebr2009/nominations. Applications should include photographs of the site and a detailed description of recent threats. Nominations must be postmarked no later than October 10, 2008.
With 65,000 members, CWPT is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States. Its mission is to preserve our country's remaining Civil War battlefields. Since 1987, the organization has saved more than 25,000 acres of hallowed ground nationwide. CWPT's website is located at www.civilwar.org. |
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