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Mark Your Calendars: Lend A Hand To Clean Up Civil War Battlefields on April 10

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On April 10 volunteers throughout the country will descend on Civil War-era battlefields and related sites to spend the day picking up litter and dead brush and leaves. Civil War Preservation Trust image.

Volunteers from are expected to descend on Civil War-era battlefields and related sites across the country on April 10 as part of a clean-up day sponsored by the Civil War Preservation Trust.

From Pea Ridge National Military Park in Arkansas to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park in West Virginia the cleanup day will focus on both trash and cleaning up dead brush and leaves.

Underwritten with a grant from History, formerly known as the History Channel, and endorsed by the Interior Department, the upcoming event is the 14th annual.

Approximately 100 historic sites in 23 states are expected to participate in Park Day 2010, which will benefit battlefields, military parks, cemeteries, and shrines.

“Civil War sites are often the victims of their own popularity,” noted Civil War Preservation Trust President James Lighthizer. “Without proper maintenance, battlefields can suffer from the ravages of both time and tourism. Our goal is to spruce up these links to America’s past so they can be enjoyed by all.”

Volunteers gather at designated Civil War sites to help with routine repairs and maintenance. Activities can range from raking leaves and hauling trash to painting signs and trail building. In exchange for their hard work, participants receive T-shirts and can listen to local historians describe the significance of the site.

Among the many sites that will be benefiting from Park Day activities this year are: Mansfield Battlefield in Louisiana, Antietam Battlefield in Maryland, Wilson’s Creek Battlefield in Missouri, and the Wilderness Battlefield in Virginia.

“These are the hallowed fields where our ancestors gave their lives. We cannot allow them to fall into disrepair,” said Mr. Lighthizer.

To find a location near you, check out the trust's page on the cleanup day: http://www.civilwar.org/aboutus/events/park-day/

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