Bull Run Civil War Round Table’s 25th Anniversary Commemorative Publication Wins Award

Originally published March 2018 · p. 31

Several of the Project Committee Receiving the Award. (Left to right and their book responsibilities) Brian McEnany (co-chair), Blake Myers, Gerald Connolly (U.S. Representative 11th District, Va.), Sharon Bulova (Chairman of the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors), Jim Lewis (co- chair, project manager, and receiving the award), Mark Knowles (editing), Nadine Mironchuk (publisher), Nancy Anwyll (president bios).

On November 11, the Fairfax County (Va.) History Commission presented the Mary Fehringer Achievement Award to the Bull Run Civil War Round Table (BRCWRT) for its 25th Silver Anniversary Commemorative Publication. This booklet is considered a template for other historical organizations. The award specifically noted that the publication had enlightened many as to the county’s rich historical heritage and would be helpful for historians, students, and the general citizenry for generations to come. Recognizing the comprehensiveness and full-color quality, the commission actually created a new category of award in order to incent other historical organizations to document their history over the years in a similar manner. The publication was the result of two years of effort by a small group within the Round

Table’s Executive Committee. Co-chaired by Jim Lewis and Brian McEnany, the monthly meetings resulted in assigning various responsibilities to a talented group of diverse skillsets. The foundation for the publication lay in the creation of 40 categorized tables, primarily from the Round Table’s electronically archived and acclaimed Stone Wall newsletter. In addition, input was solicited by the membership and various legacy members were interviewed for their memories for a personal touch. The final product resulted in 104 pages plus cover. The introduction includes a foreword by Ed Bearss and a letter from the current president. Bios of all the presidents were included along with the founder’s original vision and subsequent accomplishment of his objectives. The tables chronologically listed lectures (293), tours (128), and over 70

markers/kiosks, which were directly supported by the organization and/or its membership. Finally, the entire document was cosmetically enhanced via the incorporation of numerous full-color items customized throughout, including section separator pages, maps, collages, photos, and membership antidotes. This publication was celebrated at a festive affair by

The Award and Congressional Record Entry. (Left to right) Nancy Anwyll, Jim Lewis, and Mark Knowles.

BRCWRT’s membership and numerous local interested parties on its actual anniversary in June 9. Highlights of the planned program included a panel of past presidents reminiscing about their tenure, living history input, and U.S. Representative Gerald Connolly (11th District, Virginia) noting BRCWRT’s exemplary contribution over the past 25 years, which was later input into the Congressional Record. Acquisition of this publication can be made by going to the website www.Amazon.com/books and enter “Bull Run Civil War Round Table 25th” into the book search box (paperback only) For further information, contact Jim Lewis @ antietam1862@ verizon.net