Below is a sample letter you may copy to
send to your Senator or Representative to direct the National
Park Service to write a Special Resource Study for the George
Washington Frontier National Heritage Area. You may add
specifics about the resources of your county and the benefits
you expect to receive by being designated a National Heritage
Area. Note: to get the map, click
here
.
Subject: Special Resource Study for the George
Washington Frontier National Heritage Area
[Enter name of your county] is located in
a very historic and scenic area which played an important role
in an early era of our nation's history. In 1748 George
Washington came to the Shenandoah Valley and the Potomac
highlands to learn what he thought would be his lifetime
profession, surveying. Several years later he became the
Commander of the Virginia Regiment with the responsibility of
protecting the settlers during the terrible years of the
French and Indian War. The chain of forts he constructed
stretched from the Potomac River all the way to the North
Carolina border. This is the area where he learned the lessons
that would eventually make him our greatest American
hero.
[Enter name of your organization]
requests that you propose legislation to direct the National
Park Service to undertake a Special Resource Study of the area
on the attached map to see how well it meets the criteria for
inclusion in the National Heritage Area program. Although
throughout the proposed area of nine West Virginia counties
and over a dozen Virginia counties, local citizens are working
to preserve their colonial history and teach people the arts
and crafts of a by-gone era, we believe that this effort
should be expanded to reach out to all citizens of America.
Furthermore, beyond our shores it can serve as an inspiration
to visitors from developing countries of today.
We believe that it is of
great benefit to our entire nation to preserve the unique
story of this frontier and its role in preparing for the
American Revolution. We also believe that the natural,
cultural, historic, and scenic resources are preserved here to
an amazing extent. Although some people may look on this area
of the Great Valley and the eastern Appalachians as relatively
undeveloped, we believe this gives us the advantage of being
an exceptional classroom for teaching about our unique history
and culture in an unspoiled landscape.
Please join Senator
Robert C. Byrd by supporting legislation to direct the
National Park Service to prepare a Special Resource Study for
the George Washington Frontier National Heritage Area. Then
work with us in the coming years as we proceed with the effort
to gain Congressional approval for the establishment of this
National Heritage Area.
Further information can
be found at the web site:
www.gwfha.org . Thank you for
your support.
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