January 22, 2010
The NPS Northeast Region and W3R USA would like to invite you to a work session to discuss the future of the Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (W3R) National Historic Trail. As you know, the W3R was designated by Congress and signed into law in May of 2009 because of your efforts and that of many people and organizations interested in preserving and interpreting Revolutionary War history for future generations. We need your ideas and help in telling this important story and in bringing the trail to life.
We invite you to join us in identifying the most critical W3R resources and ways they relate to the trail, issues in trail development and management, goals and possible actions. "We would like to hold these two identical working sessions on Friday 12 February and Saturday 13 February at the Nassau Club, 6 Mercer Street, Princeton, NJ. Please indicate the session of your choice below. Space is limited, and reservations will be accepted on a first come, first served basis.
The work session has two primary objectives:
1) Identify the trail’s purpose and significance, fundamental resources and values and planning challenges
2) Gain consensus on a strategic direction for W3R USA, NPS and other partners; and identify priority actions that the partners could work on collectively
You will be asked for your reaction to a draft statement of significance for the W3R, to share your thoughts on the types of experiences that would be available on the trail in the future, and identify the most important actions that NPS and its partners could take collectively to make the W3R a reality. The results of this and additional work sessions will be presented to you and at the Annual W3R USA meeting in April for further input. The results will be used as a foundation for more detailed planning that will be conducted by NPS and the partners.
As background, from 1780-1781, General George Washington and General Jean Baptiste Donatien De Vimeur, Comte de Rochambeau, joined forces for a combined total of more than 10,000 troops, marching (and in some cases, sailing) 600+ miles through nine states and DC from Rhode Island through New England and the Mid-Atlantic states. The troops ultimately converged in Yorktown, Virginia to stop the advance of British General Cornwallis in a siege that essentially ended the Revolutionary War. 220 years later, a dedicated group of volunteers, determined to commemorate this extraordinary but little-known story, developed the nonprofit Washington Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association (W3R USA), with teams in each of the nine states and DC through which the W3R passes. Together, the W3R USA and its partners were able to secure the Congressional designation and National Park Service (NPS) assistance in administering the trail. The work to preserve, commemorate and interpret the W3R as a National Historic Trail is just beginning.
__________
Yes,
I will attend the work session for the W3R Trail at the Nassau Club, 6 Mercer
Street, Princeton, NJ from 9:30 – 3 PM.
__________ Friday 12 February 2010 __________ Saturday 13 February, 2010
NAME
_________________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS ______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
PHONE ____________________________________________
E-MAIL ____________________________________________
Please e-mail to:
For questions, please call:
Joe DiBello / 267-767-3241
Ralph Nelson / 302-239-0409
Sallie de Barcza / 908-930-6491