Keep America (and Its Battlefields) Beautiful
The Great American Cleanup is now in progress, taking place nationwide from March 1 through May 31, and Civil War battlefields are no exception. The Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) is sponsoring similar events that will take place at battlefields across the nation.
Volunteers will be marching in, attacking weeds and trash while armed with paintbrushes and trash bags. Not only will battlefields be cleaned up, but shrines and cemeteries will be targeted as well. The event is being called “Park Day,” and has received a grant from History (formerly the History Channel). Around 100 historic sites in 23 states are slated for cleanup.
This marks the fifteenth year that the CWPT has held such an event. Participants will receive T-shirts and a tour of the battlefield they help to clean up. CWPT President James Lighthizer explains the organization’s efforts most succinctly: “These are the hallowed fields where our ancestors gave their lives. We cannot allow them to fall into disrepair.”
