Gordon Honored For Battlefield Preservation Efforts

June 26, 2007, WASHINGTON – In honor of U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon’s stalwart support of Civil War battlefield preservation, the Civil War Preservation Trust awarded him its National Preservation Leadership Award.

“Tennessee is steeped in Civil War history,” said Gordon. “While my hometown of Murfreesboro was the site of a major battle, skirmishes and other battles took place all across Middle Tennessee. I know firsthand what unique and valuable resources Civil War battlefields are, and I take my responsibility for preserving them very seriously. I am truly honored to be recognized for work that preserves an important part of our nation’s past.”

Gordon, a founding member of the Congressional Battlefield Caucus, has long been an advocate of the federal Civil War Battlefield Preservation Program. The matching grants program has become a principal tool for protecting battlefield land in the United States.

Gordon also was instrumental in the creation of the statewide Tennessee Civil War National Heritage Area. Through a proposal written by the Middle Tennessee State University Center for Historic Preservation, Gordon introduced legislation to form the heritage area, designed to promote tourism and economic development in all 95 counties. Congress approved the legislation in 1996.

“Without the help of this distinguished gentleman, the work that we do would simply not be possible,” said Civil War Preservation Trust president James Lighthizer. “Rep. Gordon’s commitment to the cause of preservation and his leadership in the halls of Congress have been pivotal to the success of this organization.”

The Civil War Preservation Trust is the largest non-profit battlefield preservation organization in the Untied States. Since 1987, the organization has saved more than 24,000 acres of hallowed ground nationwide.