Civil War Trust Recognizes Distinguished NPS Official for Battlefield Preservation Leadership

(Winchester, Va.) – As part of the organization’s spring donors’ weekend, the Civil War Trust recognized the tireless efforts and dedication of Gettysburg National Military Park superintendent Ed Clark with a Friday evening reception at the George Washington Hotel. To symbolize the lasting impact that his leadership will have on the battlefields under his jurisdiction, Clark’s award includes a model 1839 U.S. cartridge box plate recovered from the site of a Confederate camp near Manassas, Va., where he was previously stationed.

“The National Park Service is charged with protecting, preserving and interpreting many of the most significant sites — environmentally, culturally and historically speaking — in our country,” Civil War Trust president Jim Lighthizer said. “It is a daunting task, but one made possible through the vigilance and dedication of a very special group of men and women. Over the years, I’ve had the pleasure of working with many fine individuals in the ongoing fight for the future of our nation’s Civil War battlefields. But few have left a deeper imprint than Ed Clark.”

Formerly superintendent of Manassas National Battlefield Park in Virginia, Clark began a tenure in the same capacity at Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site this February. The Roanoke, Va., native has served in a variety of positions involving resource management, including manager of the Green Springs National Heritage Landmark District near Charlottesville, Va., and national coordinator for the Heritage Area Program in the NPS Washington office.

While at Manassas NBP, Clark worked closely with the Trust on several key initiatives, including the transfer of inholding properties from the nonprofit organization to the Park and the preservation of additional land at the Deep Cut on the Second Manassas Battlefield. Further, Clark was instrumental in shaping service-wide Civil War sesquicentennial commemorative efforts and devoted considerable energy to increasing community involvement with the park.

“Ed is bulldog for battlefield preservation,” Lighthizer said.  “His expertise, experience and insightfulness in resource management and historic restoration has been crucial at Manassas, and I know Gettysburg National Military Park will continue to blossom under his leadership."

Over the years, the Trust has honored a wide variety of individuals and groups for their achievements in preserving endangered Civil War battlefields with its Preservation Awards. Previous winners include historians, scholars, National Park Service personnel, celebrities and even residential developers.  Despite such disparate backgrounds, all have given unique and lasting contributions to historic preservation.

Civil War Trust is the largest nonprofit battlefield preservation organization in the United States.  Its mission is to preserve our nation’s endangered Civil War battlefields and to promote appreciation of these hallowed grounds.  To date, it has preserved more than 38,500 acres of battlefield land in 20 states.