From: <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, August 18, 2002 6:21 PM
Subject: [AMERIND-US-SE] *National Park Lines CORRECTION: Fort Necessity

August 17, 2002

Dear National Park Lines Subscribers:

There was a typo in the Fort Necessity alert: The first battle of the
French & Indian War took place on July 3, *1754*, not 1854. We
apologize for this error.

Thank you so much for bringing this to our attention. It great to know that
we've got some real historians out there! Your feedback is important and
very much appreciated.

Pasted below is the corrected version of the Fort Necessity alert. Please
contact <A HREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]</A> with
any questions.

-NPCA Grassroots Staff
***********
PENNSYLVANIA: FORT NECESSITY NEEDS YOUR HELP

*Individual Phone Calls & Letters Needed!

In southwestern Pennsylvania, about 11 miles east of Uniontown, lies Fort
Necessity National Battlefield. Here, on July 3, 1754, colonial forces
fought
the first battle of the French and Indian War, a struggle between Great
Britain and France for control of North America. Colonel George
Washington, then only 22, commanded British colonial troops within the small
stockade known as the Great Meadow. Built as opposition forces were surely
and swiftly approaching, Fort Necessity fittingly earned its name. Though
Washington's troops were defeated in this battle (the only battle at which
Washington surrendered) Great Britain eventually won the war, paving the
way for the American Revolution and the birth of our nation. The National
Park
Service, with state and private partners, is making a valiant effort to
protect
more of the battlefield landscape with a $12-million investment. This should
be cause to celebrate, but many won't be. There's a different battle taking
place at Fort Necessity right now.

Fayette County has offered to sell 120 acres, valued at $400,000, that lie
adjacent to the battlefield, the most significant of all national park lands
related to the French and Indian War. The county has found an interested
buyer in a Hollywood-funded movie studio. Ironically, the county used money
from a special fund, "Project 70," to buy the land in the first place.

Under the rules of the purchase, the land is to be used only for open space,
recreation and preservation. Unfortunately, Project 70 has an escape clause
that allows the Pennsylvania legislature to release the land.


TAKE ACTION, PENNSYLVANIA!

If you are a Pennsylvania resident use the link below to send a message
to your state legislators via
HREF="http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/findyourlegislator/find.cfm">

http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/findyourlegislator/find.cfm.

You can cut, paste and personalize the letter we've provided below (see 8B).
Let them know you strongly oppose lifting Project 70 status from the 120
acres
adjacent to Fort Necessity. A sample letter is provided below. Let your
state
lawmakers know how important this tract of land is to American history as
well as to American Indian people and French and British history. We
unfortunately do not have the capacity to set up an automatic letter to your
individual state legislators, and we sincerely appreciate your extra effort
to protect your country's story and America's beginnings.


SAMPLE LETTER & CONTACT INFORMATION: You can search for legislators by
county and municipality at this Web site or check the list at the very end
of this
issue for your own member's contact information:


<AREF="http://www2.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/findyourlegislator/find.cfm">htt
p:
//www2.legis.state.pa.us/cfdocs/findyourlegislator/find.cfm >

The Honorable Pennsylvania Senate / House of Representatives
Harrisburg, PA 17120

Dear Pennsylvania Lawmaker:

I urge you to oppose any efforts to lift Project 70 status for the 120-acre
Fayette County property that lies adjacent to Fort Necessity National
Battlefield.

Fort Necessity, as you know, marks the first battle of the French and
Indian War, fought between France and Great Britain for control of North
America.

George Washington, a 22-year-old colonel at that time, commanded colonial
troops at the battle, which was the only one ever to end with Washington
surrendering. Though the colonials lost, Great Britain prevailed in the
war, setting the stage for the American Revolution. If this isn't land worth
protecting, I don't know what is.

This 120 -acre parcel was awarded 30-years protection under Project 70,
which restricts uses to open space, recreation, and preservation. The land
has
acted as a buffer for the historic Great Meadows, where Washington made
his stand. Yet a Hollywood-funded movie producer is looking to turn this
historic land into film studios, and the county intends to seek legislative
authorization to have Project 70 deed restrictions lifted, removing the land
protections. As there are no building-height restrictions set for this
proposed development, the people of Pennsylvania have no idea what sort of
mammoth movie facility to expect. There are certainly other more suitable
lands on which this development could take place.

In honor of the upcoming 250th anniversary of the battle at Fort Necessity
and of the French and Indian War, valiant efforts are under way by the
National Park Service, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and private-sector
donors to enhance and improve the battlefield park, including a $12-million
investment in heritage tourism. The park will be providing the American
people a new visitor center to better interpret local history and also will
remove all non-historic buildings from the cultural landscape surrounding
the fort. That's a lot of federal and state tax dollars, as well as private
sector money, well spent on enhancing resource protection and
interpretation.

The intrinsic economic and quality-of-life benefits that Fort Necessity
brings to Fayette County each year are irreplaceable. A film studio is not
worth the sacrifice of this treasure. Please reject any requests to lift
Project 70 deed restrictions from the county land. Urge the Fayette county
commissioners to find other, more suitable property for this project.

Please protect our history, our county, and our country. Please urge State
Senator Richard Kasunic and State Representative Larry Roberts not to
introduce this type of legislation for Fayette County.


Thank you. I look forward to your response.



Sincerely,

For more information or assistance contact
<AHREF="mailto:[log in to unmask]">[log in to unmask]

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME AND DEDICATION TO HELP PROTECT NATIONAL PARKS FOR
PRESENT AND FUTURE GENERATIONS

- NPCA GRASSROOTS STAFF

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