Are you a CWPT member?

[dusty27]

Are you currently a Civil War Preservation Trust member at some level of membership?

If so, could you share your reason for being a member?

Mine is so readers can visit sites to better understand the ebb and flow of battles and occurances in American history.

[Rob Walker]

Re: Are you a CWPT member?

Are you currently a Civil War Preservation Trust member at some level of membership?

I am a member at the Bugler level. I send in donations as I can. I was a member of both the Civil War Trust and the APCWS before the merge. I also belong to the Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg and a few local preservation organizations. If we don't hold our ground today there will be nothing for our ancestors to behold tomorrow. Everyone needs to do what they can at any level, from writting letters to donations from $5.00 on up. My reasons for joining these preservation organizations are fairly simple. Since I was a kid I had a passion for the Civil War. I am able to enjoy the fields where this terrible conflict was fought and I want to make certain that those that come after us will be afforded the same opportunity to view the battlefields. The other reason is that what better tribute can there be to those that gave of themselves to fight and die for their beliefs and their cause than to have a living memorial to their service and dedication and sacrifice. Monuments mark occasions, events and people, etc. but they can sometimes get lost in the shuffle. The preservation of land serves as a large and constant reminder of our past and allows us to literally walk in the steps of our ancestors.

Rob Walker
Co. H
119th NYSV

[Matthew.Rector]

Re: Darn right I am!!

I am a member of the Civil War Preservation Trust for many different reasons. Of course, one of my main purposes for joining was to be involved in the preservation of Civil War battlefields-some of which my ancestors took part in.

As a historic preservation professional and enthusiast, I am a member of other historic preservation non profit groups such as the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Action, Historic Landmarks Foundation of Indiana, just to name a few. I join new organizations every now and then as time goes along. Being a member of the CWPT, though, allows me to directly help out in the preservation of land associated with the War Between the States-a time in our history that I have been passionate about for most of my life.

I do what I can, when I can, but I feel that being a member helps boosts their membership and hopefully makes this national organization more recognized, thus helping out in the preservation of battlefield land or other sites related to the War. I know that some aren’t members of the CWPT, but do contribute or do their part to help save land in various ways. I think that is good and well, too. I wish I had been more involved with Civil War historic preservation when I first got into living history/reenacting 15 years ago.

I hope that this forum helps inform those new to this hobby how important it is to get involved with historic preservation. Becoming a member of the CWPT is a great start.

[smoothside63]

Re: Are you a CWPT member? You bet I am

I just believe we have to try and lock up all the Civil War Battlefield land we can to honor the men who gave their lives for what they believed in. Once the land is sold for housing it's gone forever, and future generations will never have the opportunity to view a battlefield even close to the way it looked in the 1860's.

Rich Propp
Hard Head Mess

[ley74]

Re: Are you a CWPT member?

I re-joined when they started to help the CVBT with Chancellorsville. The CVBT is my primary land preservation NFP.

[Secede1863]

Re: Are you a CWPT member?

Yes sir!

Indeed I am. No way around it for me anyhow, Ive been a member since I was 10. Its a great cause. How long have all of you been members?

Andrew

[Fod]

Re: Are you a CWPT member?

I donated through the Combined Federal Campaign then joined when they were making a push to protect a specific site... Why (beyond the obvious)? So I can have more perspective on 4(f) issues.

[Enfilade]

Re: Are you a CWPT member?

Yes, of course I am. I believe that deep down by "re-enacting" or being a "living historian" or "enthusiast of history"; whatever you want to call yourselves while doing what we do, that one of the reasons we do it is because we want to preserve history. And by contributing to battlefield preservation you can certainly help do that and carry on history and save it for the next generations.

Mark Berrier
North State Rifles
combinations@northstate.net

[dahoude]

Re: Are you a CWPT member?

Indeed I am. My purpose is to preserve these scared grounds, and save them from urban sprawl. Too much has been lost forever already.

[Jimmayo]

Re: Are you a CWPT member?

Having been obsessed with the CW since about 1976 I have seen a lot of change in the almost 30 years since reading my first CW book. After taking this poll I consulted my log book for a quick count of CW related outings. It came out to between 400 and 500 trips to some place (right in town or far up the highway) to visit a battlefield or site to hunt relics or just to look. Estimating that 3/4 of these trips were day trips to areas between Petersburg and Richmond and time actually spent with feet on the ground averaged about 5 to 6 hours a trip, it comes out to about 200 - 8 hour days of walking time on CW battlefields and camps. Most of this time was spent relic hunting in the dead of winter, in relative isolation with plenty of time to think. Where ever I was hunting I would try to read everything I could about what transpired there. I have sat in the hole left by the church built by Parkers Battery and the 17th Va. Inf on the Howlett line (bulldozed by the owner for a go-kart track). I have seen the rifle pits of McGowan's brigade which were turned around when the Union captured them near the present day Pamplin Park (now a steel mill). I feel blessed that I could see miles of earthworks and rifle pits just as the soldiers left them. At one camp there was a pile of ration cans about a foot high and 5 or 6 feed in diameter. There was so much area to hunt sometimes it was hard to pick a spot. As usual, all good times come to an end. The older folks who owned the farms have died and the land has been sold. Sometimes the present owners have been forced to sell because of rising taxes caused by urban sprawl. The land has now been developed. What a lot of people don't realize is that the National Parks only own a small portion of the CW battlefields. The rest has been unprotected and is almost gone. Over the past years I have been an on and off member of first ACPWS and now the CWPT. What got me to rejoin the last time was the effort to save the trenches at Hatchers Run. I just couldn't stand by and see these magificant monuments bulldozed down without doing anything.

Well I guess thats enough BS ing for a late Sunday night. Bottom line is that the CWPT is a good cause and deserves all the support we can give it.

(P.S. I really hate developers)

[mdbucktail]

Re: Are you a CWPT member?

Are you currently a Civil War Preservation Trust member at some level of membership?

If so, could you share your reason for being a member?

Mine is so readers can visit sites to better understand the ebb and flow of battles and occurances in American history.

Yes, I am a member. I joined to help stop the sensless ruining of these hallowed grounds. Also, my three ancestors, who fought for the Union, would never forgive me if I hadn't. I reenact to honor their memory and joined CWPT to help keep it and the ground they fought on, alive.