Four Journey Through Hallowed Ground Communities Honored as Preserve America Communities in Regional Celebration

For Immediate Release  
December 15, 2008
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Waterford, Virginia—Four communities within the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area—Harpers Ferry, WV; Purcellville, VA; Middleburg, VA and Fauquier County, VA—will be designated as Preserve America Communities and honored this week by Robert Young, Assistant Deputy Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

The regional celebration begins at 11:00 a.m. on December 17 at the Stephen T. Mather Training Center on the former Storer College Campus in Harpers Ferry, West Virginia.

First Lady Laura Bush, Honorary Chair of the Preserve America initiative, explained that, “Preserve America Communities demonstrate that they are committed to preserving America’s heritage while ensuring a future filled with opportunities for learning and enjoyment.

“This community designation program, combined with the Preserve America Grant Program, Preserve America Presidential Awards, and other federal support, provides strong incentives for continued preservation of our cultural and natural heritage resources. I commend you for your commitment to preserving an important part of our nation’s historic past for visitors, neighbors, and, most importantly, for children.,” stated Mrs. Bush.

Harpers Ferry, Purcellville, Middleburg and Fauquier County join the following communities within the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area that have already been designated Preserve America Communities: Gettysburg, PA; Frederick, MD; Leesburg, VA; Spotsylvania County, VA and Prince William County, VA.

“We congratulate Harpers Ferry, Purcellville, Middleburg and Fauquier County on this honor and look forward to launching the frontline hospitality training program with the support of Preserve America,” said Cate Magennis Wyatt, President of the JTHG Partnership. “We pursued this initiative to highlight the remarkable heritage of the region and to celebrate the unique character of each of these historic downtown communities.”
In October Preserve America Co-Chairs Lynn Scarlett, Deputy Secretary of the Interior, and John Nau, III, Chairman, Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, awarded the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, in collaboration with the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, a grant to develop and launch an extensive frontline hospitality training program for those who interact with visitors to the National Heritage Area region—from Gettysburg, PA to Monticello in Virginia—in preparation for the Sesquicentennial of the Civil War.

Housing and Urban Development Assistant Deputy Secretary Robert Young, will present certificates of designation signed by Mrs. Bush announcing each community a Preserve America Community. Communities designated through the program receive national recognition for their efforts. Benefits include the right to use the Preserve America logo on signs and promotional materials; eligibility for Preserve America Grants; notification to state tourism offices; and listing in a Web-based directory that showcases each community’s preservation efforts and heritage tourism destinations. Preserve America Communities are also featured in National Register Travel Itineraries and in “Teaching With Historic Places” curricular materials created by the National Park Service.

The Preserve America initiative is a White House initiative to encourage and support community efforts to preserve and enjoy America’s priceless cultural and natural heritage. The goals of the initiative include a greater shared knowledge about the nation’s past; strengthened regional identities and local pride; increased local participation in preserving the country’s cultural and natural heritage assets; and support for the economic vitality of our communities.