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Governor Blunt and Congressman Blunt Welcome Civil War Preservation Trust to Historic Springfield

Posted on: Thursday, 17 April 2008, 12:00 CDT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo., April 17 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Missouri Governor Matt Blunt and U.S. Representative Roy Blunt will be guests of the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation Friday evening, April 18, as they welcome the Civil War Preservation Trust (CWPT) to Springfield. The governor and Congressman Blunt will speak at 7:00 p.m. at the University Plaza Convention Center, just prior to a performance by Civil War musician Bobby Horton. CWPT, a national organization that focuses on the preservation of Civil War battlefields, is holding its annual conference in Springfield. The Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation is sponsoring the evening's event, which includes Bobby Horton's performance followed by a dessert reception.

Governor Blunt and Congressman Blunt are attending to show their support for the work of the Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Foundation and the CWPT. Locally, the Foundation has preserved more than 200 acres of historic land at Wilson's Creek, as well as funding other projects and educational activities at the battlefield. On a national level, the CWPT has preserved more than 25,000 acres at Civil War battlefields across the country. This is the first time that the CWPT has highlighted the Trans-Mississippi war by holding their national convention in Missouri.

Jim Lighthizer, President of CWPT, will present Representative Blunt with the organization's prestigious National Preservation Leadership Award, in recognition of the Congressman's commitment to historic preservation in Missouri and elsewhere in the nation. In addition, Wilson's Creek National Battlefield Superintendent Ted Hillmer will present Representative Blunt with the National Park Service Ranger Hat award for his past and present support of improvement projects and land preservation at Wilson's Creek.

The Foundation serves as the fundraising arm and "friends" group for the battlefield, which is managed and administered by the National Park Service. Since its initial purchase of 37 acres on Bloody Hill in 1951, the member-supported Foundation has helped the park build new structures, restore and furnish historic structures, purchase additional land, and acquire library and museum collections.

Civil War Preservation Trust

CONTACT: Jim Campi, Policy and Communications Director of the Civil WarPreservation Trust, +1-202-367-1861, +1-202-277-8560 (cell),jcampi@civilwar.org; or April McDonough of Wilson's Creek National BattlefieldFoundation, +1-417-864-3041, +1-417-849-4057 (cell),amcdonough@wilsonscreek.com

Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire

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