American Battlefield Trust — September 2021

Originally published September 2021 · p. 12

The Twice-Hallowed Plains of Manassas Tell a Story Worth Saving The northern Virginia town of Manassas, in Prince William County, is less than 30 miles from the national capital of Washington, D.C.; as such, it has been a scene of tremendous growth and development. It is also home to the land where both Battles of Manassas were fought in 1861 and 1862. Today, over 5,000 acres of battlefield land are preserved within the Manassas National Battlefield Park, originally established in May 1940. The preservation war is still being waged in Manassas. Of the thousands of acres that have been preserved, the Trust takes pride in having secured more than 370 acres of hallowed ground at Manassas, but a threatened 3.5acre parcel calls us back once again. The small parcel of land in the northern park is near the Sudley Church, where the Union Army set up a field hospital in the first battle’s aftermath. The church itself was also used by Confederate forces, like the 21st Georgia Regiment, as a hospital for sick and wounded soldiers. It is highly likely that many Georgians who perished at the makeshift hospital were buried near the house of worship, making the targeted acreage not only hallowed ground but also sacred ground. To save the property, the Trust looks to raise $75,000 at a rather rapid pace. With funding already secured from an assortment of grants, every dollar invested in this fundraising campaign is the equivalent of $5.13. This purchase would allow the Trust to continue its work to protect the integrity of the blood-soaked plains of Manassas, with acquired acreage slated for transfer to the National Park Service. Of the many reasons to move quickly on this opportunity, the biggest remains development that looms over the battlefield’s outskirts. Moving ever-closer, these threats come in a variety of forms; “McMansions,” massive solar farms, and as of late, data and distribution centers.

Maintaining Historic Landscapes Amidst Modern Demands: Data Centers Loom Heavy in Prince William County Manassas National Battlefield Park is one of two National Park Service units in Prince William County, Va., an amazing statistic, as there are 423 units total. Unfortunately, both parks face very real danger. Where once the only threat was residential and commercial growth spiraling out of Washington, D.C., the latest development craze is massive data centers to fuel our digital lives. Recently, despite public opposition, construction of data centers was approved just inside the congressionally authorized boundary of Prince William Forest Park. Now, another large proposal has come forward for the area between Manassas National Battlefield Park and Conway Robinson State Forest, an area previously set aside to remain undeveloped. On July 21, the Prince William Board of County Supervisors even voted to initiate a study of a comprehensive plan amendment that would target 800 acres of rural land near the battlefield for data center development. For decades, the Rural Crescent has protected much of the fragile open space in Prince William County that includes the Occoquan Reservoir watershed, Bristoe Station Heritage Battlefield Park, and a corridor of restricted development stretching the length of the county connecting the two national parks. Current zoning allows for high-density development, including data centers, as by-right uses in other predetermined areas of the county. Because rural land is always cheaper for development interests to acquire than areas with more expansive zoning allowances, the prospect of undermining the county’s comprehensive plan with piecemeal and unnecessary rezoning so developers can pay cheaper land prices— is problematic on many levels, especially when more appropriate and less historically sensitive properties are available The American Battlefield Trust is proud to stand with Prince Williams Conservation Alliance, the Piedmont Environmental Council and the National Parks Conservation Association in opposition to such intense and incompatible development adjacent to these national parks.

Veterans in Parks Act Will Give America’s Heroes Unfettered Access to America’s Treasures The Trust applauds U.S. Reps. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.) and Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-Iowa), plus 133 original bipartisan cosponsors for introducing the Veterans in Parks Act, or VIP Act. This bipartisan federal legislation recognizes that our active-duty servicemembers, veterans, and Gold Star families should be treated like VIPs in America’s national parks and on our public lands. The act would allow for free annual America the Beautiful Passes to be made available to current military servicemembers and free lifetime access to veterans and members of Gold Star families so they can freely enter all national parks and public lands. The America the Beautiful Pass provides access to more than 2,000 federal recreation areas, including national parks, national forests, and wildlife refuges. Although the pass was made free to veterans and Gold Star families for 2020, the VIP Act codifies and perpetuates that move. “By answering the call to service, our active-duty military and veterans have proven a willingness to sacrifice on behalf of this nation, demonstrating their commitment to its highest ideals,” said Trust President David Duncan. “Ensuring them unfettered access to America’s most meaningful landscapes, places of enduring significance to the fabric of our nation, is a fitting gesture of gratitude. The American Battlefield Trust, a stalwart supporter of both the National Park Service and our modern military, unreservedly supports the Veterans in Parks Act, and stands ready to help welcome modern warriors as they walk in the footsteps of their forebearers in the nation’s battlefield parks.” The American Battlefield Trust is proud to support this meaningful legislation, along with scores of other likeminded organizations.

Every Story Has a Place: The Trust Teams Up with HearHere The Trust has been working with HearHere on a travel story app highlighting stories from our past. HearHere is an audio entertainment app for travelers, available on the App Store for iPhone. The curious road tripper finds stories and the history of places they are traveling through and to, in a travel podcast format narrated by familiar storytellers like Kevin Costner. HearHere was launched in 2020 and is in the process of publishing more than 10,000 audio stories from across the United States by summer’s end, including a growing number contributed by the Trust’s staff of historians. “The power of place is absolutely central to the Trust’s mission,” said Trust President David Duncan,“and that is a philosophy completely shared by the creative team behind HearHere. We are thrilled to partner with this exciting initiative and help more Americans encounter powerful sites where history unfolded.” An app user can tailor content around their personal interests, from such themes as Colorful Characters, Culture, History, Local Insights, Music, Natural Wonders, Sports, and more. While on the road, HearHere useslocation-awarenessautoplay to notify users of available travel stories to listen to when passing a site, or download and listen offline.