Volunteers Needed for Chickamauga Park Cleanup Day
GA-- Seven generations after the beginning of the Civil War, another wave of volunteers is about to descend on America’s storied battlegrounds – only this array of dedicated men and women will be armed with brooms, trash bags and weed whackers.

On Saturday, April 7, 2007, history buffs and preservationists from around the country will team up with the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) to clean up and restore America’s priceless battlefields, cemeteries, and historic sites. The nationwide effort – dubbed Park Day – is underwritten with a grant from The History Channel.

Park Day, now in its tenth year, is an annual hands-on preservation event created by CWPT to assist local groups with the maintenance of Civil War sites. The Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is one of the sites that will benefit from Park Day-related activities.

Superintendent Shawn Benge would like to invite volunteers to meet at the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. The list of projects includes building a section of split-rail worm fence, installing an interpretive tablet, sweeping out the historic houses, cutting unwanted vegetation from the reforested area near Winfrey Field, and picking up litter. Participants should bring work gloves and wear sturdy shoes.

The American Civil War was one of the defining moments in our nation’s history. It is through the preservation of sites like the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park that our nation recalls and honors the heritage of one of its darkest hours. The mission of the National Park
Service is to educate the public about the historically significant events that occurred on this ground.

Maintaining and improving sites like this is an ongoing process with much work to be done.

If you are interested in helping out, come to the Chickamauga Battlefield Visitor Center at 9:00 a.m. on April 7, 2007, or contact the Park’s Cultural Resource Manager, Jim Szyjkowski at (706) 866-9241.