SAVANNAH — Almost exactly 150 years after the first shots of the Civil War were fired, another wave of volunteers is about to descend on America’s storied battlegrounds — only this array of dedicated men and women will be armed with paint brushes, trash bags and weed whackers.
Fort Pulaski National Monument will participate in Park Day 2011. On Saturday, April 2, history buffs and preservationists from around the country will team up with the Civil War Trust to help clean and restore America’s priceless battlefields, cemeteries and shrines. The nationwide effort — dubbed Park Day — is underwritten with a grant from History, formerly The History Channel, and has been endorsed by Take Pride in America, a division of the U.S. Department of the Interior.
Park Day, now in its 15th year, is an annual hands-on preservation event created by the trust to assist local groups with the maintenance of Civil War sites. This year, more than 100 sites in 22 states are expected to take part in the effort, with activities ranging from trash removal to trail building. In exchange for their hard work, volunteers receive T-shirts and they learn about the site’s history from local experts.
Registration at Fort Pulaski National Monument begins at 9:30 a.m. April 2 at the Fort Pulaski visitor center. Volunteers should be prepared to work outdoors. Sturdy shoes, hats and insect repellent are recommended. Participants also may bring personal safety gear (safety glasses, gloves, etc.). While advance registration is not required, it is appreciated.
Fort Pulaski is on U.S. Highway 80 East in Savannah.