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Mark your calendars because April 5th is April Park Day. It is sponsored by The History Channel and The Civil War Preservation Trust. Go to the CWPT web site to see a list of all sites participating. I, myself will be travelling to Vicksburg. Bring the family and come out to do our part and help preserve a part of history that is dear to us all.
From what I heard of Professor Gerald Prokopowicz's last interview (3/28), it's a day of going out to the National Battlefield Park (or something similar) and helping with the conservation/clean-up around the park.
Every first weekend in April the Civil War Preservation Trust, The History Channel, the National Park System and various state parks across the country host April Park Day. Volunteers show up in the morning and help the park staff clean up and maintain the park in all way imaginable. In Shiloh I a couple of years ago we cleaned the National Cemetery wall of over growth and debris, them we cleared out some nasty underbrush from Pittsburg Landing. Last year at Vicksburg we re-painted the main entrance sign, cannon displays and cleared out a small ravine that some idiots had been dumping old tires. If I was computer savvy enough to add the CWPT's link I would but my 8 year old kid is not hear to show me how. Just google CWPT and you can find the site. Each year I have e-mailed the park ranger listed under the contact for the park and they have always responded with what to expect and bring. You'll even get a T-shirt that displays the winning poster of a school conservation contest held each year. It's a good time and I guarantee that you'll make friend and acquaintances where ever you may volunteer. Don't think that it is only limited to National Parks, there are numerous state parks and historic sites that participate and need our help. Mansfield, La is a good example.
The Civil War Preservation Trust and the History Channel are once again sponsoring our 11th Annual Park Day! On Saturday, April 5, 2008, volunteers throughout the country will work together to clean and repair the grounds at over 100 Civil War sites. Last year, approximately 4,000 volunteers played a vital role in sustaining these parks, providing more than 12,000 hours of service.
Helping hands are needed everywhere for a wide variety of short and long term projects, providing interesting and rewarding volunteer opportunities for individuals, couples, schools, families, corporations, citizen groups and service organizations. Clubs and organizations can help with specific park improvements: trail renovation, tree planting, stream restoration, litter cleanup, minor repairs and more. The event is also perfect for Scout troop service projects or corporate team-building efforts.
Without the help of volunteers, trash accumulates in these natural areas, harming wildlife, polluting lakes and rivers, and detracting from the beauty of your community. This event is a fun and effective way to improve the natural environment in your local community. Thanks to your donated time and skills, your favorite state park can see improvements now instead of sometime in the future.
At each site, volunteers will get a free t-shirt and have the opportunity to hear historians tell them about the land they are helping to preserve. Plan to join fellow preservationists on Saturday, April 5, 2008 at a site near you for a day of history and hard work.
Here is a picture of the cannons my wife and I painted in Vicksburg for April Park Day. They are the first two cannon you see at tour stop #1, De Golyer's Battery. Once again everyone in Vicksburg was very friendly and kind. Our car decided that it had done it's fair share of word and let us know that it was not going to work anymore. Long story short, the folks at Vicksburg Honda worked until about 8:30PM to get us into a new car. That is the most expensive souvenir I have ever purchased.
Here is another pic from last weekend. In one of the cannon barrels at the 3rd Louisiana redan, Bluejays had made their nest. Mom and Dad were swooping down at me right after I snapped this shot.
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