This is our last chance to give future generations a lasting heritage about the story of our nation's miost historic event. Isupport Civil War battlefield preservation.

Preserved Civil War battlefields are tangible links to our country’s past.

Walking battlefields with my son were some of the most enjoyable times of my life. A great environment to teach history, politics, life lessons, spatial analysis, geography, etc., and very healthy to be outside walking and climbing. Preserving battlefields is a very cost effective way to create tourism and promote healthy activities.

Battlefields are outdoor classrooms for this and future generations. They allow visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Civil War heroes and experience the landscape much as it was during the conflict.

Preserve our history at all costs.

Preserved Civil War battlefields are some of the last tangible links to our country’s past. With the 150th anniversary commemoration beginning next year, there will be renewed interest in the conflict and (hopefully!) unprecedented tourism to Civil War sites, which will help the economies in those areas. Preserved battlefields create jobs by encouraging heritage tourism. The more historic land that is preserved, the longer visitors stay in a community and the more time they spend patronizing local businesses. This is good for America no matter how you look at it!
Even more, battlefields are outdoor classrooms for all future generations. They allow visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Civil War heroes and experience the landscape much as it was during the conflict.
Even if you are not a history buff, preserved battlefields help protect water resources; sustain parks, working farms, forests and ranches; and provide open space for outdoor recreation. It won't be long before, in many areas, these beautiful preserved battlefields may be the only open spaces in vasts seas of development.
It is a shame that only a fraction of actual Civil War battlefields have been preserved, and a crime that so much hallowed ground has already been paved over, denied to future generations. The public - private partnership between the federal government and the Civil War Preservation Trust (where the Trust matches private gifts raised from its members dollar-for-dollar with federal grants to help save actual battlefield land) may be the most effective and efficient use of taxpayer dollars in all of the government.
If these important places are ever going to be saved, it will likely be during the next 5-year period. We owe this to our children and grandchildren.

There is nothing more important than the preservation of our battlefield sites for future generations as well as our own.

Preserving Civil War Battlefields promotes tourism first and tourism results in economic activity. Young minds touring battlefields eventually begin thinking about our countrys struggles. This eventually leads to a better understanding of our history.

This our last chance to preserve valuable portions of these battlefields where thousands of men gave their lives in our country greteast crisis. The land required is small when compare to what will be lost if not conserved. Stand up for for American History and preserve these battlefields.

These battlefields are hallowed ground where many Americans fell. If these spaces were in a foreign country, no one would argue the need to preserve them. Preserving CW battlefields not only reserves this sacred space, but also preserves wetlands, forests, and open space, which is an environmental benefit.

Preserving Civil War Battlefields is very important!! We must never forget our history or we are destined to repeat it.

Just as prior generations saved land for our benefit and enjoyment, we need to preserve battlefield sites while we can. We created the world's first national park and we should maintain sites of our heritage for the benefit of our citizens.

There are many challenges to preservation of Civil War battlefields. The most critical challenge is urban creep and expansion. Much of this land is being purchased by real estate developers for both commercial and residential projects. Once we lose the land to these developers, it most probably can never be regained. So, time is of the essence, we must act now to preserve these outdoor classrooms for future generations.
These outdoor classrooms are an important tool for explaining the sacrifices free men made to uphold our union and defend freedom in America. Let us not lose these national treasures to urban sprawl, let's act now to preserve our heritage.

Not only do they honor the brave men who fought there but also are a living history lesson and another way to encourage outdoor activity.

Preservation of our Country's history should be a priority of any administration. Sustaining our nationals parks and perserving historically sensitive areas that are not your protected should be a paramount goal. While they are many short-term gains made through these actions, they pale in comparison to the long-term preservation of our Country's history for our children and children's children. We owe to those who came before us and those who will carry-on the idea America as a beacon of light.

This part of the US history is not being taught correctly if at all. We need to keep ALL the battlefields as close to the way they were for all to learn from.

While it's unfortunate that so many of our most significant and cherished battlefields are so close to current population centers, we need to prove that our heritage really is important to us as a people.

Preserving historic land, especially Civil War sites is crucial to helping future generations to understand our national character and history. The conflict tore our nation apart and helped to build the country we know today. These sites are disappearing every day because of suburban expansion and development. We can never recover a piece of developed land or a Civil War site that has been destroyed. Finally, a battlefield is a classroom for every American to learn about the carnage, devastation and horror that ultimately led to the creation of the America we each live in today. To allow these and other sites to disappear without an effort to save them is a tragedy from which we can never recover. We owe our children and their children the chance to learn about these places by visiting these places. Our President, leaders and our government must surely understand this....

• Preserved Civil War battlefields are tangible links to our country’s past.

• The 150th anniversary commemoration is expected to stimulate renewed interest in the conflict and generate unprecedented tourism to Civil War sites.

• Protection of America’s remaining Civil War battlefields will leave a lasting legacy of national commitment to preservation and conservation.

• Preserved battlefields revitalize local economies and create jobs by encouraging heritage tourism. The more historic land that is preserved, the longer visitors stay in a community and the more time they spend patronizing local businesses.

• Battlefields are outdoor classrooms for this and future generations. They allow visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Civil War heroes and experience the landscape much as it was during the conflict.

• Preserved battlefields help protect water resources; sustain parks, working farms, forests and ranches; and provide open space for passive outdoor recreation.

• Battlefield preservation in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, where many significant sites are located, is also vital for protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Parkland created through battlefield preservation near growing population centers like Nashville, Atlanta and elsewhere can benefit quality of life for residents.

It is a win, win situation for preserving our Civil War Battlefields! Not only do we honor our heritage as a GREAT Nation, by preserving the battlefields of the very war that ultimately UNIFIED our nation, but we help the commerce and trade of the very towns that have this heritage.
We don't need another casino, nor another Walmart, nor another housing development encroaching on these sacred grounds that must be preserved for our present and future generations!

Preservation of the important Civil War battledfields where Americans fought in a war ofr ideals. Preservation and interpretation of these grounds is important to understanding our Nationa's history.

Civil War battlefield protection is a great way to honor our American history AND create more green spaces which families can visit and enjoy. It is a win-win proposition!

Europe has great archatecture and castles and very old cities to admire.America is a very young country and we must preserve what we have left from our history or it will be gone .We do not have thousands of years of histories as do the European and Asian countries. Our history is so precious to us ,we take it for granted so many times . It was fought for so hard and people treat it as if we can just throw it away.

The preservation of Civil War Battlefields is one of the most urgent issues facing the United States today. Once lost, these fields can never be recovered. Not only is this the history of our great nation, but it is truely the blood of it. Fields that knew the intense horror of the war and the intense belief in each individual's cause. Walk the fields of Gettysburg or Antietam and you will never be the same. For our children's sake. So they can learn what so many did a long time ago. So they can walk in their forefathers footsteps. So they can stand where freedom was born and paid for at such an awful cost.

Civil War historical sites are endangered national assets. Once they have been paved over, built upon, or otherwise disturbed, they cannot be retrieved. Perhaps the most bitter chapter in our national history is enshrined at these sites, which should be preserved for future generations to visit, study, and contemplate. Concerned individuals, government officials and agencies, and foundations, working together, have already saved many sites, but much remains to be done. Every day more of these historic sites disappear forever, and the window for preserving them closes a bit more. Join CWPT and contribute to the ongoing process of battlefield preservation.

The time is NOW to preserve what is left of Civil War Battlefields! Why the urgency? Reflect for a moment what has happened to so many of the Revolutionary War Battlefield sites. So many of them are in the heart of a city and are not preserved. We have an opportunity to save and preserve the remaining Civil War battlefields. Our government and our citizens must act NOW!

Battlefields are memorials to those who helped to make our country what it is today. Battlefields are lessons of what has shaped our society. Battlefields are outside in fresh air and not in a room full of electronics or gizmos.

There are so few original Civil War fields left.....we should protect what we have and save whatever is still intact and save them completely not allowing any development anywhere near them. It is important to keep these vistas pure so that generations of Americans can see the same fields and woodlots that those boys in 1861-65 fought and died on.

Greg Youngstrom

Strongly support idea of Civil War Battlefield Preservation as a terrific means of conserving open space, particularly in the highly populated states of Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania. This will help preserve and hopefully improve the Chesapeake Bay watershed, which has suffered enormous degradation over the past several years, and help provide opportunities to teach and educate everyone on the incredibly important history of our Civil War, whose 150th anniversity will be upon us next year.

Battlefield land is the most valuable artifact of the American Civil War. Civil War Battlefields tell the story of the war: from the way people fought, to where they fought, and why they fought. Walking a battlefield where men fought and died defending what they believed in is an emotionally engaging experience, one that will cause people to find a personal connection and interest in the past.

I have been privileged to tour three Civil War battlefields, Franklin in Tennessee, Vicksburg in Mississippi and Perryville in Kentucky. All three contributed greatly to my understanding of the Civil War. Without these sites being preserved, future generations will not be able to understand physically what happened in those four momentous years. I am strongly in favor of battlefield preservation so that they can trully have something more than books to understand the past history of the United States.

Preservation of Civil War battlefields is vital as a reminder and link to our nation's past, that is all too quickly being forgotten. Honoring the struggles that America has gone through to become such a great nation and remembering our heritage can help to keep our current problems in perspective and knowing where we have come from can help us move forward as a nation. We must never let our national history, or the memory of so many who died, disappear and battlefields are a wonderful way to teach and "see" that history that must be passed along to future generations. Without a past, we have no future.

As George Santayana said: "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." Keeping history alive and available to all of our citizens is very important for our continued education on our past mistakes. Civil War battlefields remind us in a tangible way of an important (some might argue THE most important) part of our history.

We must stop digging up our past under the guise of making way for the future.
Remaining civil War sites MUST be preserved!

I have visited many civil war battlefields in Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Kentucky, Tennessee, Georgia and Mississippi. It is important to protect and preserve these battlegrounds and cemeteries where our forefathers fought and died for a cause in which they believed so our children can under understand and appreciate one of the most traumatic episodes in American History. Never have so many owed so much to so few.

Our children and future generations need the opportunity to experience our nation's history in ways other than computers or books, this being by actually visiting the battlefields. Seeing where these battles were fought help us to understand the struggles of those who fought to preserve this nation. The Civil War was an unparalleled episode for these United States, and must be fully understood by future generations. It has only been through visiting many of these battlefields that I have come to more fully appreciate the struggles of my ancestors and others who fought and gave their lives for this country. It is my hope that my descendants will also have these opportunities.

Preserving battlefield land is a win on multiple fronts. It saves ground where Americans fought and died, it creates green space for the enjoyment of all, and it presents opportunities for teachers to bring life to the past through the use of outdoor classrooms where citizens can learn about character, perseverance, and what it means to be American.

Battlefields are like cemeteries. Would you want Walmart to build a parking lot over your loved ones' graves or tombstones? We need to preserve these battlefields not only out of respect, but to also help preserve our land, bodies of water, and habitats.

I grew up around our nation's very first National Military Park-Chickamauga & Chattanooga NMP. I have also visited many other NMP's in TN, GA, MS, VA, PA, MD, NC, SC, etc. Battlefield parks are one of the best places to spend time with your family & friends & help connect you to our nation's past. Future generations need to be reminded of what our ancestors sacrificed to ensure we would have a good life & a great country to live in.

Preserved battlefields revitalize local economies and create jobs by encouraging heritage tourism. The more historic land that is preserved, the longer visitors stay in a community and the more time they spend patronizing local businesses. Plus, more battlefield land preserved = more natural, green areas for all of us to enjoy.

American youth need to have access to the real places where their forefathers fought and died for their ideals. The Civil War was the defining event of our emergence as a country. To understand modern America we need to preserve those deadly, sacred spaces. Slavery, States Rights in a Federal system, the Battle for the West, Industrialization were huge issues of the time, and they still are. You can't understand the present without knowing the past. You cannot counter wrong information, predjudice and deceitful statements without knowing the real history of our country. Support Battlefield Preservation!

Our battlefields are precious national landmarks. Once destroyed, they are gone forever. Please preserve our cultural and historic heritage!

I grew up in York, PA, approximately 22 miles east of Gettysburg, PA and I have visited the battlefield over 100 times. In addition, my great-great grandfather fought at the South Mountain and Antietam, Maryland battlefields. If he had died, I would not have been born. I cannot imagine what my life would be like now if these American Civil War Battlefields had not been preserved during the time of my youth. Learning and studying these battles helped to lead me to my current teaching job and involvement with the Civil War Preservation Trust. As Americans, we need to understand how lucky we are to be alive and out of respect for our ancestors, we need to do everything within our power to preserve the "Hallowed Ground" of America's Civil War Battlefields!

As a child, I came to love American history more than partly thanks to visits to Revolutionary War and Civil War battlefields in Pennsylvania and Virginia. As an American Soldier I benefited professionally when studying lessons in leadership and maneuver on some of these same battlefields, as well as those in France, Belgium, and Germany. Preserving and improving these battlefields helps to conserve critical open space and resources, creates splendid vacation opportunities for the entire family, contributes to local economies, creates jobs. Even more importantly, money and hard work spent on these battlefields actually invests in the hearts and minds of our children, enabling them to visualize and to an extent experience the triumphs and tragedies of our past,as well as the sacrifices made by so many throughout our nation's history. Encouraging civic spirit is a noble goal enabled by effort put into preserving our national past.

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• Battlefields are outdoor classrooms for this and future generations. They allow visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Civil War heroes and experience the landscape much as it was during the conflict.

• Preserved battlefields help protect water resources; sustain parks, working farms, forests and ranches; and provide open space for passive outdoor recreation.

• Battlefield preservation in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, where many significant sites are located, is also vital for protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Parkland created through battlefield preservation near growing population centers like Nashville, Atlanta and elsewhere can benefit quality of life for residents.

With the Civil War Sesquicentennial just around the corner, now is the perfect time to take action to save our nation’s treasured Civil War battlegrounds. The 150th anniversary commemoration is expected to stimulate renewed interest in the conflict and generate unprecedented tourism to Civil War sites. The protection of America’s remaining Civil War battlefields will leave a legacy of national commitment to preservation and conservation. These lands will be open spaces for the public to enjoy, preserved in their natural and pristine state, allowing visitors to walk in the footsteps of their Civil War ancestors. This experience will be unlike anything they could have read in a book or watched on television about the conflict. Preserved battlefields revitalize locol economies and create jobs encouraging heritage tourism. The more historic land that is preserved, the longer visitors stay in a community and the more time they spend patronizing local businesses.

As a member of the Civil War Preservation Trust and Hagerstown (MD)Civil War Roundtable, please allow me to offer my comments on the Administration’s America’s Great Outdoors initiative. I would like to see some of this money spent on Civil War battlefield preservation. Battlefields are essential for several reasons.

Protection of America’s remaining Civil War battlefields will leave a lasting legacy of national commitment to preservation and conservation. Preserved battlefields revitalize local economies and create jobs by encouraging heritage tourism. The more historic land that is preserved, the longer visitors stay in a community and the more time they spend patronizing local businesses. Battlefields are outdoor classrooms for this and future generations. Preserved battlefields help protect water resources; sustain parks, working farms, forests and ranches; and provide open space for passive outdoor recreation. Battlefield preservation in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, where many significant sites are located, is also vital for protecting the Chesapeake Bay.

Finally, what better way to observe the 150th anniversary commemoration of the war by preserving battlefields where men fought and died. Thank you.

I just retired after teaching 42 years. Some of my greatest satisfaction comes from the awareness that my students exhibited after studying about the Civil War and then going to the Gettysburg Battlefield. They would write essays on their return explaining what it was like to be on "a great field" (Col. Joshua Chamberlain). If our ancestors hadn't the foresight to save that field, we would not have been able to walk Pickett's Charge or take in the strategic views from Little Round Top. Thank goodness for those who saved Monocacy, Antietam, Ft. Stevens, etc.!
Just last month, one of my eighthh graders took 2nd place in the Civil War Preservation Trust's essay contest entitled "Take Action: Save Civil War Battlefields". Did that make me feel proud? Certainly! But not as proud as I am of the fact that she is donationg her $100 prize BACK to the CWPT!
So when we Americans look at our priorities, we must remember that our youth are our future and we must serve our future by preserving the opportunity to walk those fields.
P.S. In the fall, I will accompany the Class of 2011 on their Gettysburg trip as a retiree in Union uniform.

BATTLEFIELD PRESERVATION OFFERS A MEANS TO MEMORIALIZE OUR ANCESTORS AND PRESENT CLASSROOMS FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS TO UNDERSTAND A PART OF OUR HISTORY
• Preserved Civil War battlefields are tangible links to our country’s past.

• The 150th anniversary commemoration is expected to stimulate renewed interest in the conflict and generate unprecedented tourism to Civil War sites.

• Protection of America’s remaining Civil War battlefields will leave a lasting legacy of national commitment to preservation and conservation.

• Preserved battlefields revitalize local economies and create jobs by encouraging heritage tourism. The more historic land that is preserved, the longer visitors stay in a community and the more time they spend patronizing local businesses.

• Battlefields are outdoor classrooms for this and future generations. They allow visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Civil War heroes and experience the landscape much as it was during the conflict.

• Preserved battlefields help protect water resources; sustain parks, working farms, forests and ranches; and provide open space for passive outdoor recreation.

• Battlefield preservation in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, where many significant sites are located, is also vital for protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Parkland created through battlefield preservation near growing population centers like Nashville, Atlanta and elsewhere can benefit quality of life for residents.

This really is a no-brainer. Preserved historic sites and battlefields not only provide a history lesson for everyone (something sadly lacking, especially in our schools these days) but also open spaces which provide healthful recreation, wildlife habitat, help the environment and may continue to be beneficial in terms of agricultural use and resources (food crops, livestock pasturage, etc.). There are plenty of places to build our malls, homes and so forth but once a historic site is plowed under, it's gone forever. Support the CWPT and its efforts to preserve our mutual American heritage. It is absolutely one of the best and most effective non-profit organizations in the country. Been a member since the days of the APCWS.

Saving our battlefields is essential for our history and makes good economic sense.

Saving the battlefields is essential to our understanding of our history. As a teacher I know the power of having the chance to visit and have students visit these historic sites. Please save them for future generations.

I have raised two Children and now have two Grand Children and I have taken all of them to visit Battlefield's and to try and teach them the importance of the Civil War. I have traced my Great,Great Grandfather's on both my mother and father's side of our family. I live just outside of Nashville, Tennessee and it makes me sick that we have to follow a guide book that takes you from Marker to Marker to read and try to understand when and how this battle was fought. We have visited other Battlefield's like Shiloh and it is beautiful. The Stones River Battlefield just had a shopping center built there on Halllowed Ground and this is wrong. This was and is a very important time in all of everyone's lifes because President Linclon kept this Great Country of our's held together and freed mem, women and children from one of the great's sin ever committed by man and that is to think that you can own another person. There is enough land that people doesn't have to build there building's on top of peoples grave's (Hallowed Ground). My wife and I are both on a fixed income from being disabled but we still give every dollar that we can to the CIVIL WAT PRESERVATION TRUST to save this land where your family died also. Please think about this and just think it hasn't been that long ago. Think of your loved ones from then and now. Thank you for you time.
Tommy Thompson

I can't improve on most of these comments in support of preserving battlefields. If we don't preserve the history of this awful chapter our nation's story, ancestors many centuries from now could repeat them!

Our Civil War Battle sites should be preserved. I have visited numerous sites and always find myself taking way more time than I plan exploring these places. I know that, like myself, there are many people who have direct ties to these hallowed places via ancestors that fought there.

What is my connection?
Pvt. James W. Stewart, 36th Georgia Infantry Regiment.
Battle of Champion Hill
Siege and Battle of Vicksburg (surrendered and parolled)
Chattanooga Campaign (Battle of Missionary Ridge)
Captured shortly after, parolled again in Jan., 1864, no further participation.

These battlefields help us learn about history, while at the same time providing a chance to experience the sort of landscape that our ancestors saw. In many areas they provide a buffer against urban sprawl and a habitat for birds and wild animals.

The preservation of Civil Way battlefields (and other historic sites) should be of the highest priority. This is one of the ways the Federal Government can work with citizens groups on both the local and national levels to form public/private partnerships that get real results.

Saving land from development will encourage future generations to connect with our country's history and develop an appreciation for the enormous sacrifices made by previous generations of Americans.

It is refreshing to note that respect for our country's history, particularly the Civil War, is one of the things that helps bring American's together, regardless of their background or political affiliation.

Finally it is a proven fact that Civil War battlefield parkland is of tremendous economic benefit to nearby communities.

The preservation of Civil War and other historical sites should absolutely be of the highest priority. They are the places that shaped this nation...men and women served and died on these battlefields. We owe it to those whose spirits still walk these lands, to our children so they may learn what events happened to bring them to where they are today, and to ourselves...as our duty to both.

The Civil War was one of the most defining periods of time in this country's history and without a doubt has molded us in countless ways into the nation we are today. Battlefields possess an aura that cannot be experienced in any other way than to walk where our ancestors' blood once soaked the ground, where men fought and died for what they believed in. No teacher or text book can convey the sacredness one feels when surrounded by the now peaceful open spaces that once were the backdrop to the most horrific carnage as well as some of the bravest moments in American history. Preserving these battlefields now is more important than ever as we Americans are losing a little bit of our heritage with each passing day, and once these great links to our past our paved over, they are gone forever. We must never forget the events that transpired on these lands, and their preservation should never be compromised.

The Civil War has to be one of the most important and significant times of our countries history. We MUST protect and honor these battlefields and the blood of those fallen americans who fought so bravely at these sites. To visit these Battlefields makes the novice history individual feel the presence of what occured there and to be at awe
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We must commit to preserving these monuments to the sacrifices made by so many to mold this nation into one nation. If we cannot preserve our past what makes us think there will be a future. I certainly don't want future generations ignorant of the blood shed on behalf of our country. We cannot allow the final resting place for many of those who gave their very lives to preserve this country fall victim to a shopping center or mall. We owe our children and grandchildren the opportunity to see the battlefields where our bravest fought and died for a cause they believed in. It is hard to imagine what our future would be without a past to learn from. Let us never take for granted the sacrifices made and the blood shed for the future you and I are now enjoying. These battlefields MUST be preserved.

We must never forget.

While I have visited many Civil War Battlefields and enjoyed and appreciate what the government has done in preserving them, unfortunatly many of the battlefields have not been totally saved. It's important that these sites are preserved for the memory of those that fought there, the education of future generations and the open space that they supply in this every more congested country. I hope that my grandchildren and further generations have an even better experience at these battlefields than I did.

Lest we forget: The ground on these battlefields was soaked with American blood!!!
Would you build a McDonalds on the cliffs overlooking Omaha Beach??? How about a Walmart??? What kind of American would even propose developing land on which American soldiers and civilians fought and died??? It is unfathomable!
Yet it is happening now. Please protect this hallowed ground.

Battlefield preservation is, at least, a triple win. It protects history, the environment and provides space needed for quiet recreation,

Civil War battlefields are tangible links to our country’s past.

• The 150th anniversary commemoration is expected to stimulate renewed interest in the conflict and generate unprecedented tourism to Civil War sites.

• Protection of America’s remaining Civil War battlefields will leave a lasting legacy of national commitment to preservation and conservation.

• Preserved battlefields revitalize local economies and create jobs by encouraging heritage tourism. The more historic land that is preserved, the longer visitors stay in a community and the more time they spend patronizing local businesses.

• Battlefields are outdoor classrooms for this and future generations. They allow visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Civil War heroes and experience the landscape much as it was during the conflict.

• Preserved battlefields help protect water resources; sustain parks, working farms, forests and ranches; and provide open space for passive outdoor recreation.

• Battlefield preservation in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, where many significant sites are located, is also vital for protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Parkland created through battlefield preservation near growing population centers like Nashville, Atlanta and elsewhere can benefit quality of life for residents.

I would love to live on a golf course for its beauty. The same goes for most of our civil war sites. Most are wonderful places to go to enjoy a few hours in the outdoors...take a lunch and enjoy the scenery as well as the history.

Civil War battlefields should be preserved not only for their historical, educational and cultural benefits, but for their economic contributions to the local areas.

Saving and preserving these battlefields are essential, not only as lasting monuments to the brave men that fought and died there, but as virtual classrooms for all future generations that they may truly understand the great sacrifices made by each and every soldier to help forge and make this country into the truly free and united country it is today. Maintaining these battlefields also protects the environment and they contribulte to the economic well-being of the areas surrounding them through tourism.

I cannot say it better than many of these people before me. However, I believe as an American and a member of the human race, that we have to maintain this history for ourselves, our children, and theirs. Our ancestors fought in these battles for ideals that they believed in. We need to understand what they fought for, and what they were willing to do for their ideals. We need to remember what has passed before so we are not doomed to repeat our mistakes again. I have found that visits to these battlefields, and the wonderful museums and visitor centers that have been created for them, are wonderful places to learn and remember. The dollars that we spend are small but can have a huge impact. Please support this effort and work to maintain and expand the preservation of our history.

The sites of critical events in the history of our nation support the contiuity of our free society. These include battlefields where men gave their lives in defense of their beliefs. They call people in the present to continue to defend and propagate our freedoms.

I will never forget walking the battlefields of Gettysburg and Antietam with my family. It was awe inspiring to realize that not only was I on the very spot where so many had fought and died, but that I was even able to be there! It was amazing that these places hadn't been turned into strip malls or parking lots. They were being saved so that every American could experience our history. Seeing a movie can be great. But actually being on site is incomparable.

But preserving our Civil War Battlefields does more than just save our history. It also preserves nature, promotes conservation of resources and encourages us to get outdoors. The parkland created near so many urban population centers enhances the quality of life for those residents. Local economies are stimulated by the tourism created. The upcoming 150th anniversary commemoration will surely generate even more interest in visiting the battlefields.

It would be difficult if not impossible to find a downside to supporting Civil War Battlefield Preservation. With the Sesquicentennial (2011–2015) on the horizon, it is a perfect opportunity to recommit ourselves to our history.

The battlefields of our nation's most turbulent and defining four year period must be preserved. Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain said 120 years ago at Gettysburg, "In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays. Forms change and pass; bodies disappear; but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generatons that know us not and that we know not of, heartdrawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field to ponder and dream; and lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls." Just like Chamberlain we must be visionaries!

Don Torrence

The saving of our history should be of high priority even in this current economic conditions.
This is an investment in ourselves.
If the lands in questiion are able to be recovered in the future, and there will be questions on that (how do you iknock down sub-divisions to bring a battlefield back to how it was? Even if you do you have ruined the ground from a historical/anthropological sense. Buy it before it is lost forwever, or at least as cheap as possible. Every dollar we spend today saves us dollars tomorrow.
I believe one fo the best program is the type of matching grantsso that there is both public and private cooperation on the issue. It has worked well in the past. We are willing to do our share too!
Kevin

The preservation of the sites which are inextricably linked to the seminal event of 19th century American history is a priority that cannot be deferred. In ten to 15 years the most important remaining unspoiled tracts will either be preserved or will have fallen to the developers' bulldozers. These are the places where the nation fought for and won a "new birth of freedom" in Lincoln's words. The core values that underlie our form of government and our way of life were established and re-established on these fields of honor. And on this hallowed ground as nowhere else can each succeeding generation learn to appreciate what those values mean and what price our forebearers paid to preserve them.

"Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it." --George Santayana

Preserving these battlefields and other historic sites will help remind us of this time in our history and, hopefully, prevent us from another civil war.

There is no downside to supporting battlefield preservation in the United States. Preserving history, nature, wildlife ... there is nothing not to like. Imagine the northern Virginia triangle between Richmond, Virginia, Warrenton, Virginia and Washington, D.C. WITHOUT the battlefields that are preserved there. Wall-to-wall development ... with Walmarts and Malls and highways the only monotony breakers. And yet, that is what we would have there now if not for the efforts of preservationists over the last twenty years.

The alternative is too awful to contemplate.

The only losers when such sites are preserved (and expanded) are greedy developers and unscrupulous retailers. The future applauds those who preserve what remains NOW.

As an added note ... all the Federal Government needs to do on this is follow and support the excellent lead of the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) in the area of battlefield preservation.

Preservation of Civil War battlefields -- and of the open spaces surrounding them -- is the most thoughtful, most powerful, most tangible way to honor those who fought on those battlefields. That should go without saying. Just as important, preservation is critical to imparting to young people the causes and costs of the war that gave shape to the country they live in today. The existence of the places upon which this awful conflict was carried out can serve as a springboard for educational programs to ensure that the reasons for the war, and the way in which the war was waged, are thoroughly understood and never forgotten. Schools should be urged, if not required outright, to make study of the Civil War a major part, if not the focal point, of their U.S. history curricula. Students, along with their parents, should be encouraged to visit battlefields. Surveys have shown that young people are woefully ignorant of American history. Preservation and promotion of Civil War battlefields can be used to rectify this national embarrassment.

Please, preserve our battlefields, civil AND revolutionary war. They are tangible links to our past, and it is one of the best ways to honor those who fought, and to teach those we hope never have to fight.

Preservation of Civil War battlefields saves a vital part of our national experience.

7-12-2010
The country's many Civil War Battlefields at this time are under extreme pressures from developers and need the immediate attention at all levels of government where they exist.
Not only are these historic/cultural landscapes "economic assets" for the local communities and districts in which they are located, but they are also invaluable natural settings that work to enhance our quality of life in protecting precious open space, working farms, stream valleys and surrounding wetlands. Now, more than ever, the Department of the Interior needs to engage along with the Civil War Preservation Trust and other private non-profit Civil War battlefield preservation/friends groups to aggressively work to save the remaining unprotected land where so many sacrifices were made as the 150th anniversary of the War (2011-2015) approaches. Thank you.

Eric B. Martin

Alex Yanushefski

Civil War battlefields must be preserved for their history and significance to our history. One visit to Gettysburg many years about showed me how important these sites are. How sad it is to go to Manassas or Fredricksburg and have the interpretive signs say "at the stop sign at the bottom of this hill ...............".

If they can be preserved while protecting open space, what a win - win.

I recently visited Wilderness Battlefield and Spotsylvania Court House in Virginia. Both are battlefields where my g-g-grandfather fought. It was an incredibly moving, informative and personal experience for me to walk across the battlefields, re-tracing his steps as I read from his regimental history. Because the NPS has been able to preserve these battlefields and their surrounding viewsheds, I was able to connect with a part of my family's personal history, and the collective history that I share with all Americans, without the interference of modern American life.

Now, the Wilderness Battlefield is threatened with commercial development led by Walmart. Other battlefields from this and other wars face similar threats. There is plenty of space for commercial development located at a distance from these battlefields. Once these battlefields and their immediate surroundings are developed they are forever lost. The landscape will be devastated, archaeological resources will destroyed, historic buildings will be minimized, and our chance to develop further understanding of these battles and educate our populace about the significance and sacrifice of our ancestors will be squandered.

The President's initiative to preserve America's Great Outdoors must include battlefield preservation as a significant portion of its scope. These open spaces are incredibly important to the country – particularly as our population becomes increasingly heterogeneous. We need to remember what it means to be American – and historic battlefields help us do that.

This is a noble activity with benefits all Americans. To contemplate the struggles and their motivations in detail is to learn what was and is great about this nation and its people. Giving up these lands to development or other mundane uses is to remove their influence forever.

Protect this amazing piece of truly American history.

Studying military campaigns such as those that occurred during the Civil War by reading a book is fine but you can only really learn about a battle by visiting the actual battlefield. Then the book becomes a visual. Too much original battle field land has already been lost to "progress". Once it's gone it's gone and we cannot bring it back. We must preserve our "visuals" so our youth can better understand our history.

I never fully understood Pickett's Charge until I walked that mile and imagined a hundred cannon shooting at me. The clash of ideals at Gettysburg exacted a terrible human toll, and it's difficult to comprehend the cost until you walk that battlefield, and others. These battlefields are part of our national soul. Plus, they create greenspace for wildlife, and also encourage physical fitness, which can reduce Medicare expenses. I have donated money to battlefield preservation since 1993, and it's always been a good investment. People in future generations will benefit from our efforts today.

I spent over a week at Gettysburg and did not see it all. I felt like I was on hallowed ground and had to see every inch. Battlefields are our last tangible link with the past that we can actually touch and walk on. There is nothing like exploring these battlefields. I can actually see the battles raging out on the fields, I can feel the pain, the horror - this helps us to understand the past. We must preserve these battlefields so future generations can also FEEL the past. When the battlefields go, so do the links to future generations.

Patricia Seivert

Battlefield preservation isn't just a cause for Civil War buffs. It also appeals to environmentalists and anyone with a love for green space and smart growth policies. I've never forgotten one day driving south from the increasing suburban sprawl around Frederick, which is gobbling up the countryside like a hungry monster, and then suddenly encountering green fields, trees and a peaceful river -- the Monocacy battlefield. Similarly, the Balls Bluff Regional Park is a remarkable oasis of unspoiled forest, riverside cliffs and trails wedged between the sprawl around Leesburg and the Potomac River. And it's amazing to drive west from Washington, through the suburbs of northern Virginia, and suddenly come upon the unspoiled terrain at Manassas, which still shows you something of what nineteenth century America looked like. For those reasons, although I have trouble remembering when I last read a volume of Civil War history, I contribute towards battlefield preservation every year.

How can you not support this. This is a major part of the story of our nation, yet we have people and companies that would like to build casinos and other disgusting development ideas on some of our most hallowed ground. As congested as much of Europe is they do hold some things sacred and you will find large tracts of the D-Day beaches untouched, Battle of Somme still filled with untouched trenches and nearly 95 % of the Waterloo battlefield left as it was on the last day of that world changing battle. We as a nation have far more land that isn't hallowed ground that can be developed, yet we still look at this "prime real estate" and our politicians buckle to those that finance their campaigns and allow things such as the proposed casino in Gettysburg to happen.

Vacationing this summer, I was very disappointed to learn that the location where one of my ancestors lost his life in the Civil War was not protected and in fact was one of the most endangered battlefields - Lovejoy Station in Georgia.
I would like to add that in New England, many key sites related to King Phillip's War are also endangered and unprotected. These sites have many fine qualities in addition to their outstanding historic relevance to that time period. Key locations of the conflict include elements of the outdoor landscape that were and are sacred to Native Americans of the Northeast. The full meaning of these sites has long been overlooked in historic accounts and their cultural context is only beginning to be explored and appreciated by professional historians and archeologists. There is no complete, systematic identification of these sites; a coherent regional heritage district linking these significant places would be ideal. In the meantime, sites not already protected for some other reason remain in great danger of destruction. Often located adjacent to wetlands or on overlooks of scenic beauty, these ancient and historic lands deserve protection and full recognition for their past and for our future benefit.
Please consider including protection of these Native American landscapes within the scope of our nation's great outdoors.

Eric Del Orfano
Civil War Battlefields were paid for with American blood and are sacred places. We need to be more diligent in preserving and caring for them.

• Preserved Civil War battlefields are tangible links to our country’s past.
• The 150th anniversary commemoration is expected to stimulate renewed interest in the conflict and generate unprecedented tourism to Civil War sites.
• Protection of America’s remaining Civil War battlefields will leave a lasting legacy of national commitment to preservation and conservation.
• Preserved battlefields revitalize local economies and create jobs by encouraging heritage tourism. The more historic land that is preserved, the longer visitors stay in a community and the more time they spend patronizing local businesses.
• Battlefields are outdoor classrooms for this and future generations. They allow visitors to walk in the footsteps of the Civil War heroes and experience the landscape much as it was during the conflict.
• Preserved battlefields help protect water resources; sustain parks, working farms, forests and ranches; and provide open space for passive outdoor recreation.
• Battlefield preservation in Pennsylvania, Maryland and Virginia, where many significant sites are located, is also vital for protecting the Chesapeake Bay. Parkland created through battlefield preservation near growing population centers like Nashville, Atlanta and elsewhere can benefit quality of life for residents.

Reading about history is a good thing. But walking over the same ground after reading about the history that occured on that ground can give a child an experience that no book alone can.

To repeat what previous posters have said:

1. Battlefield preservation offers tangible links with the past.

2. Battlefield preservation offers needed green spaces in which people are able to exercise through walking, jogging, biking, and hiking.

3. These green spaces are needed barriers to prevent erosion, pollution, and increase oxygen levels. These spaces are also preserves for wildlife, some of which are endangered species and have fewer places to go in a time of increasing suburbanization and urbanization.

4. Preserved battlefields promote heritage tourism which in turn promotes the economic health of many communities in an era of an increasingly service driven economy.

5. These battlefields serve as some of the best spaces to learn about the best and worst in humanity as interpretation allows people to understand slavery and its downfall, patriotism, nationalism, bravery, disloyalty, savagery, horror, and the unfinished work of the post-Civil War Amendments to affirm and solidify the right of all Americans in being treated equally under the law.

As a history teacher, I know the difference between reading about or talking about a historical place, and actually going to see it. Every spring I take my 8th graders to visit over 15 battlefields in Virginia, Maryland and Pennsylvania, in order to show them the places where Americans gave the last full measure to protect what they thought was worth dying for. Some of those battlefields become a little smaller every year. Our nation has so little history compared to the world, and we need to save what we can. Obviously we cannot save every house where Lee slept, or every road that Washington rode on, but we can dedicate and memorialize those crucial places where men gave all that they had so America could continue.

I agree with the many comments already made. I just want to add that there is very little time to make substantial preservation progress as every day that goes by sees more precious battlefield lands taken over by housing developments, shopping centers, road construction, and so forth. Hence, maximum effort needs to be made in the next few years, or the opportunity to do so will be forever lost.

I enjoy walking the battlefields. It sometimes gives me an eerie feeling to know I am standing where so many soldiers fought and died. The battelfields need to be preserved.

Preserving battlefields allows us to keep tangible links to our past. It's important to preserve sites from all conflicts, from the French and Indian War, the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War. Once these sites are lost, it is almost impossible to get them back. These sites are valuable parts of our communities and require more attention and funding.

I tried to show my son the Salem Church battlefield in Spotsylvania, Va, but could not keep his interest. We were walking through the furniture store parking lot, the bank parking log, and I just COULD NOT keep his interest. He could not tell what I was talking about with all of the cars trying to park in the parking lots. Also, the asphalt was too hot to make it pleasant. I think the idea of allowing commercial development on Civil War battlefields IS A BAD IDEA. It does not work. And it is very hard to figure out what might have been here 150 years ago after the bulldozers have cleared the area and leveled all of the terrain.

On the other hand, when we walked across the Spotsylvania Courthouse battlefield, my son could easily tell how the battle unfolded. The terrain, woods, and fields are very similar to what the battlefield was like 150 years ago. AND, nice and cool, with the trees. No asphalt to bake you into surrender!!

So my idea is to, preserve the Civil War battlefields NOW. Don't try to do it later after the commercial property has totally transformed the area so that you do not recognize it. Also, trying to buy the commercial property later and transform it later will not work. It will be too costly and too difficult to bring the area back up to the pre-commercialization state.

Like many Americans, I am the direct descendant of a Civil War soldier. Preserving Civil War battlefields keeps alive the memory of those soldiers who fought on them and especially those who died on them. Not only that, battlefield preservation helps protect wilderness areas from commercial encroachment, helps conserve watersheds and wildlife habitats, and lets our descendants enjoy their cultural and historic heritage.

The role of the Federal government in facilitating the preservation of the sacred ground embodied in the Civil War battlefields through making available matching funds for non-profit organizations is vital to our ability as a nation to the continued recognition of our heritage. Private sector groups have had great success in laying the groundwork and developing the arrangements for critical land acquisitions. These efforts, when parleyed with the ability to show financial leverage through matching gifts from sources with common interests such as governments, individuals, and grass-roots organizations have proven invaluable. These successes can continue if reliable public funding is established/continued.

It would be surprising if a great nation such as ours did not have many pivotal moments in its history. Having said this, I would like to respectfully suggest, that the four years of the American Civil War represents the most important years in the history of this Repuublic. All that we have, and are, and believe, today, had its origins in this titanic struggle. The battlefields of that war are not merely parks, or repositories of monuments. They are shrines, bathed in the blood of hundreds of thousands of our ancestors who -- on both sides -- fight and died so we could have the nation, and the life, we share now.

Preserving these battlefields offers the best way to help preserve their memories, and in doing so, help keep alive the values that created these United States in the first place.

For me, walking these historic battlefields is a spiritual experience that every American should have the opportunity to partake in. We still have time to preserve these sacred parcels of land for posterity, so our children and generations to come will have the opportunity to learn why brother fought against brother for the ideals which they held sacred and to create the great nation that we have become. It is so easy to take for granted that these battlefields will be with us forever but nothing could be further from the truth. We must act now to preserve this part of our heritage so the memory of the great events that happened there will be remembered forever.

Preserving Civil War battlefields is a conscientious way of remembering and honoring the hundreds of thousands of men that fought and died in that devastating war. It is our history and these battlefields ARE hallowed ground. It is absolutely imperative that we do all we can to save ALL of the land fought on during those four horrific years. Please preserve these battlefields for those now long gone, for ourselves, and for future generations to come. I cannot think of any cause more worthy. Let us not forget those who sacrificed the ultimate price...we honor each and every Civil War soldier when we preserve this sacred ground.

Our young people deserve opportunities to know, understand and appreciate the exceptional history of our country. First-hand experiences, enhanced by outstanding explanatory comments, at the actual places that are important in our history are essential tools for providing or enhancing this understanding and appreciation. Visiting a site is far superior to reading about it or even watching a video or television program, and the older generations have a moral and cultural obligation to insure the preservation and accessibility of such sites for all people, but especially for the young. Actions that degrade these sites and the experiences they offer should be permitted only if the benefits from such actions, viewed honestly and objectively, clearly, unequivocally and substantially outweigh the damages, often irreparable, that such actions will cause or promote.

I live on the west coast. I take multiple trips every year to visit Civil War Battlefields. I would rather go to places such as Gettysburg then anywhere else.This is sacred ground. North and South these were all Americans who fought for a cause that they thought was just. We must remember their sacrifice and teach these lessons to future generations. Not only do these battlefields teach history they also are great open areas for hiking, bird watching, etc. How many Walmarts, Casinos, and shopping centers do we need. We need to do everything in our power to save these places and to limit encroachment. Their is a saying, for those who don't learn from history are bound to repeat it.

Preserving civil war battlefield land and view sheds before urban sprawl or industrial use, such as strip mining, destroys historic land is an important priority in 2010 - 15. Land adjacent to battlefield parks provides important open space which is available to the general public for hiking, picnicking, and bicycling. The need to provide for historic intrepretaton employs local historians, and sees infrastructure such as signage, and restroom construction materials purchased from the local community. Construction services, such as maintenance, grading/paving of parking lots contribute further. Tourists visiting these points of interests purchase gasoline locally, and either dine at local establishments, or purchase drinks and picnic food. Charter bus companies and hotel benefit from larger groups.

THere is a huge positive and dignified impact on a community with open space historic site preservation.

Beyond the dollars and cents impacts, these civil and revolutionary war battles shaped this nation and made us who we are today. Many of our neighbors, and ourselves, have relatives who fought in a given battle, and visiting that battlefield is the single most tangible way of touching their personal past, and passing on the tradition to the youngest generation.

I urge President Obama to front load battlefield land acquisition into any 5 year budget plan, with more funds available sooner, to purchase land threatened by urban sprawl. This issue is important enough to deficit fund.

I love to read about Civil War history, but there's nothing like walking on the actual land where the battles were fought to really bring the history alive. We can't afford to let this land be built over and destroyed. We need to take action now to preserve it for future generations to enjoy before it's lost forever.

America's Battlefields have served as critically important outdoor classrooms for generations of military cadets, noncommissioned officers, and officers. The great value of actually standing on ground that was fought for is that the visitor is able to develop an enhanced appreciation for time and distance, for the actual topography of the area, and for the reasons that particular ground was viewed by the men who fought for it as "key terrain." We must save our battlefields!

Saving our battlefields helps keep alive the memories of those who fought and died there. It allows us to touch a place where our history was created. Additionally, they are places where families can visit economically which in-turn helps our communities when visitors buy fuel, meals, hotels, etc. These are positive, tangible benefits for everyone.

If we do not learn from our past, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes. So many of our ancestors fought in a war which many historians refer to as America's "Second War of Independence", and the war which created a nation out of individual states. It is incumbant on us to honor those who fought, and to preserve this hallowed ground for future generations. It is not enough to read about Civil War history. We must preserve battlefields to provide a more tangible history experience. The time is now to do all we can to save these sites as they are constantly disappearing due to urban sprawl.

Preserving battlefields means preserving history as well as the environment. Battlefields offer opportunities for learning, communing with nature and exercise. It's a win-win for everyone--including wildlife.

This is a no-brainer. The battlefields MUST be preserved, they our history, our soul, our reminder. We have lost to many to greed and sprawl and cannot for the memories of who all fought and died on those hallowed grounds afford to lose...anymore.


John J. Raspanti

Stop that darned WalMart at the Wilderness. Good heavans, once it is paved it is gone forever. And that Casino at Gettysburg! What are we thinking!

J.R. Reddig

We have travelled and toured many Civil War battlefields including just returning from a trip to VA. It is important to preserve these historic spots for the generations to come. Once they are gone, they are gone forever. It is important for children and adults to understand the the history of this great land. Hopefully the next few years with the 150th anniversary will increase interest in these great sites.

As Americans it is incumbent on us to protect the hallowed places where so many of our forefathers gave their lives. The protection of Civil War battlefields provides this opportunity to our current generation. Battlefields are rapidly disappearing because of unwise development that disregards our historic resources. We do not have much time to act. Those of us who share this common interest and sense of responsibility must act now. Our numbers are many, and our will is strong. Our battlefield organizations, National Park Service, and government officials must be strongly encouraged to protect these legacies of our national fabric.

Many of our battlefields are being swallowed up by development and urban sprawl. While I realize we can't halt progress, there must be a balance between new land use and preserving the past. The American Civil War battlefields are worth preserving. Building a casino at Gettysburg, or a WalMart within a stones throw of the Wilderness will bring down the historic value and solemnity of these historic places. Have you ever been to Arlington National Cemetery, which was started after the Civil War? It's on the flight path for one of Washington DC's major airports; it was disheartening to stand on that hallowed ground, trying to pay respects to the dead with the noise of a jet plane flying over! Flashy casino signs and WalMart sprawl have no place near these sacred fields.

I can't think of a better cause - preserving history, preserving nature, limiting sprawl, encouraging people to spend more time outdoors, all in one!

It is impossible to understand the significance of the Civil War in our current time without preserving these historical sites for our children and grandchildren to visit. This portion of American History is barely glossed over in our schools today.
The understanding and appreciation of the sacrifices that these men and women made for their freedoms are lost on today's youth. Preserving these sacred sites will not only demonstrate respect for their heritage but also provide them with the opportunity to touch, see and feel the past.

We visit Gettysburg PA. every year. I cannot think of a better cause to preserve than our historical battlefields. I take my niece & nephew with me and to think that they may not have the opportunity to take their children is a sad thought. The sacrifices that these soldiers have made for our freedom should always be remembered by preserving these historical sites.

I support Civil War battlefield preservation as a high priority. Preservation is precious to both the history and traditions of America and increasingly to the environment as well.
Civil War battlefields should be preserved at all costs.

Our opportunities to preserve the remaining Civil War battlefields diminishes every minute as development encroaches upon the finite number of acres where Civil War soldiers fought. The timeliness of this proposal is critical. If we want Americans to get out into the great outdoors, what better way to do so than to preserve those woods, fields and streams of Civil War battlefields so the public can get outside and make a connection with the most desperate span of our nation's history at the same time?

As an elected municipality official of Washington Township in Franklin County, Pennsylvania I strongly support Civil War battlefield preservation. I would encourage all Municipality, County, State and Federal elected officials to take a strong stand to protect and preserve our heritage. Battlefields are our outdoor classrooms for our and future generations. They allow educators and visitors to walk in the footsteps of our Civil War heroes and ancestors while experiencing the landscape much as it was during the battle. Protection of America’s Civil War battlefields as well as protecting areas where smaller and important battles have taken place, but not yet recognized will leave a lasting legacy of our nation’s commitment to preservation, and education. I am very proud that Washington Township Supervisors of Franklin County, Pennsylvania has taken the lead to work with The Battle of Monterey Pass Association to raise funds to purchase a plot of land to monument Lee’s retreat from Gettysburg. Please visit our web sites to learn more. { Link }

History is what makes the present relevant and the future predictable. By saving our battlefields we are providing todays youth a lesson in why we are the nation we are today. By destroying it we say it is not important and then promptly go and create the same tragic mistakes that the Civil War tried to teach us not to make. In addition we are preserving open space for those who follow behind us. I live in the Chicago suburbs. If the last few years of development mania have taught me anything it was that we need to preserve open space where and when we can. The sprawl added to the existing overbuilt environment I live in has few positives to show for its impact on the natural environment. If it wasn't for a few farsighted government officials when the area was less developed there would only be another parking lot where we now have beautiful green space. By combining saving battlefields with the creation of open space we create a win win situation for everyone.

Preserving our past protects our future!

You can read lots of first hand accounts of civil war battles, look at maps from the time of the war, read present day historians who use the first two sources mentioned above and fill in a graphic image of what the battle was like, but until you walk the ground and study the terrain and measure the steps taken by individual soldiers and officers, you cannot understand a civil war battle. For this reason we must preserve what battlefields we already have and add to them so that when we visit the battlefields our very psyche is filled with the fear, terror, and uncertainty of the soldiers who gave the last full measure to preserve the cause they fought to preserve and some of them died fighting. For this reason the care of civil war battlefields and additional acreage must be not only be encouraged, but demanded.

Our young people are woefully ignorant of the causes, personalities, and events of the American Civil War, if not of American history in general. Walking the very ground where great events took place and, in this case, where men North and South, bled and died for what they believed, makes history come alive in ways a book or internet site never can. The Civil War was truly the defining event in the history of this country. Many of the issues that led to war still make the news today, such as sharing of authority between individual states and the federal government, equal access to the benefits of citiizenship for all of us, and speaking out and "fighting" for one's beliefs as opposed to the apathy and indifference so often surrounding us. Civil War battlefields bring all this to life and preserve forever the sacred ground where young American heroes believed certain truths worthy of fighting and dying for.

Preserving the battlefields achieves two goals: 1. protecting sacred ground in the history of our nation and 2. maintaining open space. It's a win-win. We can't talk about recognizing the efforts of our soldiers and at the same time put strip-malls on top of the historic locations where they fought.

Preserving the sacred grounds of our pass to future generations is a MUST. The educational benefits to our children about these historical sites will increasingly enhance their understanding on what took place. We need to preserve and protect these sites at all cost for the tremendous sacrifice of lives given by those who fought for what they believed in.

I am a very fortunate individual who can take my children to American Civil War battlefields and show them where their ancestors stood and fought for what they believed in. Some very smart individuals had the presence of mind to save hallowed ground permanently at Chickamauga, Georgia and Shiloh, Tennessee and as a result i can walk some very meaningful ground for my family. Others should also have that right/chance and that is why battlefield preservation has always been a priority in my life. Gift matching programs offered by the Federal Govenrnment have helped to reduce the cost of land acquisition and is is a necessary ingredient for future preservation opportunities.

For educational and quality of life reasons, the battlefields should be preserved. Young people will benefit from real, open air, not just virtual, experience to enhance their knowledge of history. Planners and environmentalists have copiously written about the unfortunate consequences of sprawl, and repetitive US 1 big box shopping mall "normalcy".. Anchoring history and saving open space is of great value, esthetic, educational, like National Parks.

Brandy Station is America's largest and most important Civil War battlefield, and the effort to preserve this pristine historic landscape now spans more than twenty years. Thus far, we have been been mostly successful in saving important battlefield acreage--areas where heavy and casualties occurred--simply because like-minded organizations have banded together and worked toward a common end. With superb leadership provided by the Civil War Preservation Trust, while supported by the Brandy Station Foundation, both battlefield preservation entities have worked closely with other groups--such as the highly-effective Piedmont Environmental Council--to accomplish noteworthy preservation and education goals. Whereas battlefield preservation advocates were formerly thought of as "no growthers," we are now fully integrated partners in Culpeper County's land-use planning and economic environments. By the way, we have been relentless in this struggle, and since 1988, we have "kept our army in the field." There is much more work to do... Clark B. Hall, President, Brandy Station Foundation

Our ancestors literally shed their blood on these fields. Their memory and sacrifice by perserving these lands. We shouldn't bury their memory under parking lots.

I love Civil War battlefields for their historical significance and their natural beauty. It is ironic that one can find so much peace in a setting that once witnessed so much violence and carnage.

Civil War battlefields should be preserved and protected, because of their priceless legacy to our nation's heritage. Housing developments and shopping malls can be built anywhere, but there is only one location where each of these battles was fought. It would be a terrible tragedy if we were to lose the timeless virtues of honor, duty, courage, and sacrifice that these battlefields symbolize for so many Americans to the short-term economic gain by a few. We can do better as a nation and a people and we should do better.

Thank you.

I was looking into what I could do to help with CWPT, an organization which I have belonged for almost 20 years. I have participated in every possible way because I believe in my Legacy to the future of this country. I have served in the military for over 25 years, i have been a re-enactor and living historian for over 17. I have been in a combat zone, I have walked the fields of Malvern Hill, Gettysburg, and Antietam. When people like David Duke can desecrate the Hallowed Ground that may well still contain the bones of our Honored Dead, without even TRYING to see what he is about to defile, it makes my blood boil. The greatest LEGACY we can pass on is the very fabric of our land, our history, our national past. Through efforts such as those of the CWPT, Historic Trust, and our National Parks System, we can provide this legacy to our children' children, and their progeny. What makes us the greatest country in the history of the modern world is remembering our true heroes and heroines. The greatest respect we can bestow upon their memories is to do EVERYTHING in our collective power to sustain and protect, preserve and renew the hollowed ground which is the very fabric of our history. No company can impact the country for the span on history that the Civil War has. Jobs come and go in a generation or two, the land exists forever. By supporting the Civil War Preservation Trust, National Parks System, and providing for their continued success; you and I can save the priceless legacy of our children's understanding, education, discovery of what has made, and still makes our country what it is, and can be. If you forget the past, you are doomed to repeat the errors of the past. Here is the perspective I use to explain this to the children I see in the classrooms here:
The population of the US can be represented by the entire population of Texas. The number of people involved in the war is about equal to the size of the city of Houston. The number of casualties (including a sizable chunk of the civilians) equals the entire city of Fort Worth. Think about it.
We can either let developers, casino owners, and greedy businesses devour this hallowed, sacred ground by an acre per hour, or we can unite to preserve and protect it forever with support to the CWPT, Historic Trust, and National Parks. MY great idea, Mr. President, Distinguished people in my Government, is to save our battlefields, our history, and our children's Legacy. Or, should we point across the black-topped parking lots of the near future to the Mega-Mall, or Discount store and say, "That is where your great-great grandfather helped stop a charge of two thousand men, and that's why the USA is great? What say you?