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 To subscribe, change options, or unsubscribe please see the instructions at http://listlva.lib.va.us/archives/va-roots.html