SEE BELOW FOR THE LATEST UPDATE ON THE STAFFORD COUNTY CIVIL WAR PARK!!!

After many years of hard work by the Stafford Board of Supervisors and the Friends of Stafford Civil War Sites, a non-profit group, the Stafford Civil War park project has moved one step closer to reality.

FSCWS Director Glenn Trimmer, Stafford County Board of Supervisors Vice Chairman Paul Milde, & Fredericksburg City Councilman Fred Howe III led a Groundbreaking ceremony on 22 July 2011 at the site of Stafford's newest Park.

“The value of the National Guard’s efforts is estimated to be about $800,000.00,” said Vice Chairman of the Board and Aquia District Supervisor Paul Milde, who has been heavily involved in the project over the past three years. "This project is more than just about saving the taxpayers’ money. It’s about preserving and opening to the public this amazing collection of earth works (redoubts) as a park, and also being able to assist the National Guard in its mission. I'm particularly proud that the County’s modest financial investment is leveraging nearly $1 million for the cause of the Civil War park.”

On Thursday, 28 July, the VA ARNG's 1033 Engineering Support Co. based out of Cedar Bluff VA departed the Civil War Park for home. On Friday the 29th, remaining elements of the 180th Horizontal Construction Co. and 189th multi-role Bridge Company returned to their Powatan and AP Hill posts. A few soldiers will return early this week to retrieve 4 or 5 remaining dump trucks. To say our park has benefitted from their efforts would be massive understatement at best.

Phase I SCWP construction is complete. The 3 park roads including Dilger Rd, Gen Howard Ave., and Battery Heights Road have all been rough graded, and debris removed except as left to assist in E&S control over the interval before the next deployment that we hope will be in June of 2012. The stream crossing is in. Erosion and Soil personnel from Kruckenberg Services Inc. will be at work in the park this week to finalize the E&S per previous agreement with Stafford County.

All key objectives of the IRT exercise including the clear and grub, and rough grade of all roads were completed. A temporary metal gate has been placed across the entrance and we have put up additional posted signs. Sincere thanks to Davy Kruckenberg, of Kruckenberg Services who besides doing the E&S work for the park, has also donated the gates installed.

Four-wheeling, relic hunting, and trespassing on the site are not permitted and will be prosecuted. Hopefully this will not be an issue and we would appreciate all getting this message out.

Amazing, but from officers to privates, these Guard soldiers, to the last minute of the exercise, kept thanking the FSCWS and Stafford Co. for this great training opportunity. Also, nearly everyone of them noted that they'd bring their children, parents, friends etc. back to Stafford in future years when this park is completed to see it. In all actuality, it is the FSCWS and the citizens of Stafford County that are indebted to them.

Below are some stats on what the local area and the Civil War Park in particular gained through the VA ARNG Innovative Readiness Training effort---All of this was at zero cost to local taxpayers. The Guard would have used their training funds ($400,000 dedicated here) somewhere else if not here. They must train to stay combat ready, and they simply could not be more pleased with the training they got here, large numbers noting this the best Annual Training event they had experienced. A few notes on what they brought to the Park effort:

175,000 square feet of road were cleared and grubbed (3,500 ft X 50 ft wide)
3,780 miles of gravel hauling missions were completed by 10, and 20 ton trucks. That is 118 trips to the Vulcan quarry and back. 2,230,000 lbs of gravel was picked up and delivered. Gravel donated by Vulcan materials.
2,363 miles of travel were expended (358 trips) to remove debris
Including equipment and personnel transport mileage along with the above numbers the VA ARNG drove over 7,000 miles during this exercise.
Twice due to the size of the largest excavator on this project the I-295 S. bridge over the James River had to be closed to allow this oversize load to cross down the center-line of the bridge at 5 miles per hour. No incidents.
Heavy equipment operators, operated equipment including dozers, excavators, etc. for 720 hours.
Chain sawing crews operated for a total of 720 man-hours.
In addition to the above, and with thanks to Kruckenberg Services a significant stream crossing including 40 feet of 54" pipe was installed with all pipe, and rock products provided by Vulcan or Americast.

All of the above was accomplished in some of the worst heat on record. These soldiers encamped at the site, and on two days in particular worked nearly all day with a combined temp and humidity rating of 120 degrees, and yet there was only one injury --a broken ankle to one of the chain saw operators. There were no heat injuries or emergencies, clearly a tribute to the Officers and NCOs who so carefully watched over these soldiers.

Next time you see a Guard Soldier here or anywhere, let them know they are appreciated. We begin the application process for Phase II this week. We are very optimistic. As LT COL Atkinson of the 276th noted last week, the Stafford Civil War Park is on their schedule. Pretty close to this effort, but truly believe it has been a real win for one and all concerned. Thanks to one and all who contributed to this effort.

After a Virginia Army Guard IRT Participant Appreciation Dinner on Sunday, the 24th of July, and after an exchange of certificates between the FSCWS and the VA Army Guard, Glenn Trimmer, assisted by Officers and other Directors of the FSCWS, presented a remembrance coin to each soldier.   These coins were specially minted with the Stafford Civil War Park Logo, which was designed by Brian Withrow, & the FSCWS logo, which was designed by Ross Trimmer, and are in commemoration of the Phase I Construction.

Director Brian Withrow, a member of the FSCWS Doard of Directors , also designed the artwork below for the certificates

presented to the VA Army Guard Battalions.