Planning Underway For 145th Anniversaries of Battles of South Mountain and Antietam, Scheduled for 2007

Planning is now underway for the 145th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam. The Western Maryland Heritage Foundation (WMHF) is hosting the event the weekend of September 7-9, 2007, in Boonsboro, Maryland.

Boonsboro, MD (PRWEB) July 30, 2006 -- Planning is now underway for the 145th Anniversary Reenactment of the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam. The Western Maryland Heritage Foundation (WMHF) is hosting the event the weekend of September 7-9, 2007, in Boonsboro, Maryland.

“September Storm – The War Comes To Maryland” will recreate portions of the battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Thousands of reenactors are expected to participate in the weekend-long event, sponsored by the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB).

“Remembering our history and heritage is important,” said CVB President and CEO Tom Riford. “The CVB is pleased to be involved in the planning and financial support of this 145th Anniversary event. We think that the anniversary reenactments will not only be successful, but will achieve positive awareness of the Maryland Campaign of 1862.”

“South Mountain Battlefield State Park was Maryland’s first battlefield state park and includes several national historic monuments and markers. Antietam is known as the bloodiest single-day in American history and the battlefield is known as America’s most pristine battlefield,” Riford said.

The WMHF, the CVB, and employees of South Mountain State Battlefield are working together to plan historically accurate yet safe battlefield depictions that will serve to educate the public while honoring the veterans who served so bravely during that tumultuous time in our Nation’s past.

“Our focus on high quality programming will ensure that we accurately depict the sacrifices made on our behalf,” said Chris Anders, Chairman of WMHF. “Too often we forget just what our forefathers did to preserve the liberties we enjoy today and those our children will enjoy tomorrow.”

By commemorating both the Battle of South Mountain and the Battle of Antietam, the event will depict more of the Maryland Campaign of 1862. “For years, the significance of the Battle of South Mountain has been overshadowed by the larger and more well-known Battle of Antietam,” said Assistant Manager of South Mountain State Battlefield Al Preston. “Now more people are starting to recognize that this battle was the turning point of the Maryland Campaign. There is a new awareness for the Battles of South Mountain and Antietam as the real High Tide of the Confederacy.”

Commemorative events for the Battle of South Mountain are planned at South Mountain State Battlefield for Friday, September 7, 2007, leading up to the reenactment on September 8 and 9, 2007. Commemorative events for the Battle of Antietam are scheduled to take place at Antietam National Battlefield September 14 through the 17.

“September Storm – The War Comes To Maryland” is completely a volunteer effort. All proceeds will benefit preservation and interpretation of the South Mountain State Battlefield. WMHF has hosted many events in the past, including the Summer of ’62 Reenactment last year, and the 140th Anniversary Reenactment of Monocacy in 2004.

The Maryland Campaign of 1862 was the Confederates’ first invasion of the North. This move onto Northern soil resulted in the Battle of South Mountain, fought September 14, 1862, and culminated in the Battle of Antietam, three days later on September 17, 1862. Over 29,000 Americans fell as casualties of these actions and the Confederate troops retreated back onto Southern soil. The American Civil War continued for several more years until Lee’s surrender at Appomattox Courthouse in 1865.

For further updates on this event and information about the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, go to www.marylandmemories.com.

For more information about the Western Maryland Heritage Foundation, headquartered in historic Boonsboro, Maryland, got to www.wmhf.org or call 301-432-0103.

For more information about the South Mountain State Battlefield Park, go to http://www.dnr.state.md.us/publiclands/western/southmountain.html.

For more information about Antietam National Battlefield, go to www.nps.gov/anti.

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