Sites group looking for new members
in promotion of Civil War heritage
“Kentucky’s Civil War heritage is among the best in the nation,” Mary Kozak declares. “And, we need to tell that story throughout the U.S.”
The vehicle for doing that already is in place, Kozak, veteran Jessamine County and Camp Nelson promoter, points out. Its name is the Kentucky Civil War Sites Association.
“The Civil War Sites Association was formed in July 2009 for the purpose of telling Kentucky’s story and promoting the Commonwealth as one of the top places to visit during the Civil War Sesquicentennial,” the Association president noted. “We have more than 60 battlefields and sites and a wealth of historical figures who were prominent during the conflict. We need to band together to bring visitors here to learn and enjoy.”
The Civil War Sesquicentennial begins in 2011 and extends through 2015. The event and subsequent activities are expected to bring thousands of visitors to Civil War states, which also translates into significant tourism dollars, Kozak said.
Roger Stapleton, military heritage director of the Kentucky Heritage Council, echoed Kozak’s comments, noting that Kentucky’s Civil War sites and attractions are located throughout the state.
“We have eight battlefields and sites in Kentucky’s Western Region, 11 in the Southern, 38 in the North Central area and six in the Eastern sector,” Stapleton said. “Two future presidents were involved at Kentucky battle sites – Gen. U.S. Grant (Paducah) and Col. James Garfield (Middle Creek) – and Nathan Bedford Forrest made his first cavalry charge at Sacramento. Kentuckian John Hunt Morgan was a prominent figure in Civil War history and, of course, both Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis were natives of the Commonwealth.
“These are but a few of the historical highlights we have.”
A map of the state’s Civil War sites is located in the publication’s Civil War Sites category.
Stapleton, a former Civil War infantry and medical re-enactor, made the initial proposal to form a statewide organization from the Central Kentucky Civil War Heritage Trails Association. With the change, new bylaws and articles of incorporation were approved and the Association began with members from Perryville, Richmond, Mill Springs, Munfordville, Tebbs Bend, Camp Nelson, Camp Wildcat, Fort Boonesborough-Winchester, Frankfort and Lexington.
Membership in the association is open to Civil War site anchors (fully interpreted with visitor facilities), smaller developed sites with interpretation and emerging sites. Kozak said annual membership for anchor locations is $250, $100 for smaller sites and $50 for emerging locations yet to have interpretation. Additional categories include friends (voting members) - $50, and supporters (non-voting members) at $25.
In addition to Kozak, who represents Camp Nelson, other officers are Vice President Paul Rominger (Richmond), Secretary Betty J. Gorin (Tebbs Bend), Treasurer Gilbert Wilson (Mills Springs) and at-large members Nancy Turner (Winchester) and Tres Seymour (Munfordville). They also serve as the initial directors of the association, which is a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation.
Locations interested in membership should contact Kozak via e-mail at marykoz@aol.com, call 859-492-3115 or complete the following form and mail with a check to Gilbert Wilson, Mill Springs Battlefield, P.O.Box 282, Nancy, KY 42544.
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