Preserving Historical Sites

Under All Is The Land.  So begins the Preamble to the REALTOR© Code of Ethics …. written by our predecessors to remind us that the interests of the nation and its citizens require the highest and best use of the land including the preservation of a healthful environment.

As a  REALTOR© I maintain that our social responsibility and patriotic duty includes recognizing the importance of preserving and restoring historical sites – balancing growth with preservation.

The efforts of many organizations and citizens, in providing educational programs and restoring links to our past, insures that important historical events and sites, large or small, shall continue to  exist and tell a valuable story in an atmosphere that honors and protects the importance of their contributions to our heritage.

Franklin Tn Battlefield Sites

September 19, 2008 - Franklin, Tennesee. Six generals were mortally wounded or killed during the battle of Franklin. This photo shows the back side of an outbulding at the Carter House, downtown Franklin pocked with too many bullet holes for me to count. We spent the morning touring the Confederate Cemetery and grounds at Carnton Plantation, then drove to the Carter House. We could have ordered a pizza and had lunch in the car within a few hundred feet of the sites commererating the wounding or death of several of the dead generals.
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Murfreesboro - Stones River 2008 Tour

September 18, 2008 - Murfreesboro (Stones River Battlefield). ... the scene of one of the bloodiest battles of the Civil War. The national parks maintains a visitors center with a walking tour which includes the National Cemetery, the Hazen Brigade Monument and an Artillery monument near McFaddens Ford. In the city of Murfreesboro you'll find Oaklands, a Museum and scene of battle as well as Evergreem Cemetary, the final resting place of many unknow confederate soldiers.

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September 2008 Battlefield Tour - Antietam

September 17, 2008. Dawn, 146 years after ithe first assaults on the cornfield at Sharpsburg. Following in the footsteps of Union and Confederate soldiers, over 100 Civil War enthusiates joined in anniversary walking tours of the Antietam Battlefield. Among the particpants were Jim Marshall, Lou Bishop  and Andy Lolli, members of the Cape May County Civil War Roundtable, the first stop on a seven day tour of battlefields stretching as far as Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Chickamauga, Georgia. [more]

Gettysburg 2008 reenactment

Gettysburg, Pa 2008 Civil War Reenactment - During July 4-6 I revisited Gettysburg with a few members from the Cape May County Civil war Roundtable, touring the Hallowed Grounds, examining the exhibits in the new visitor's center and attending the reenactment and living history taking place over the weekend.

The video below is of the Army of Northern Virginia as they formed in columns to march to the battlefield fro the second day's portayal of Longstreet's attack. The video is less than 2 minutes long, and is just a sampling of the actual footage - the line marched past us for nearly 45 minutes, an impressive review of nearly 4,000 "citizen soldier's" that represented the SMALLER of the two armies at the reenactment.

The weekend was capped off by a moving portrayal of Pickett's charge, ending with an emotional playing of Taps, leaving particpants and spectators alike in awe of the proceedings and reflective of the sacrifices and loyalties of our ancestors.

If you get a chance, BE THERE in 2013 for the 150th Anniversary. You won't regret it.

Park Day April 5, 2008

On April 5th I plan to be lending a hand at Antietam National Park near Sharpstown, Maryland. You too can help at one of over 100 sites participating in this program.

[ Exerpt from the Civil War Preservation Trust Website ]
The Civil War Preservation Trust and the History Channel are sponsoring the 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.

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 tp preserve. [ Complete text and list of sites ]