A Valentine for Civil War Buffs

Author donates article to help perserve Civil War battlefields.

(PRWEB) February 14, 2003

PRESS RELEASE

COLUMBUS, OHIO

Nineteenth Century valentines were ordinarily red velvet hearts trimmed with white, frilly lace. The Valentine’s Day present one author is giving to Civil War reenactors may not be as pretty, but it comes from the heart all the same.

“When I was doing research for my book,” explains Harlow J. Keith, author of Cold Harbor, “I was amazed to find out how much commercial development was threatening Civil War battlefields. I’m all in favor of progress, but not at the cost of our history. What I am doing is giving Civil War reenactors and other Civil War buffs something to help them save our battlefields.”

Mr. Keith’s gift is a 1,300-word article on how to counter some of the more common arguments used by developers to allow battlefields to be turned into strip malls. “Before commercial developers should be allowed to make a profit, they need to fully explain the benefits of what they are doing,” says Mr. Keith. “My article helps a person better develop questions that ought to be satisfactorily answered before construction is approved. Anyone who would like a copy of the article should contact me, and I will send them one as soon as I can.”

The author’s dedication to preserving the Civil War battlefields stems from a life long love of American history. “Americans have so little understanding of their history that whatever is done to preserve it is critically important. The Civil War Preservation Trust has already done a considerable amount of work in trying to protect these historical places. My article is my contribution to the overall effort.”

Mr. Keith can be contacted at KEITHBOOKS@aol.com. His novel, Cold Harbor, which has been nominated for the Michael Shaara Award, can be ordered through the publisher’s bookstore at http://www. pdbookstore.com, or specially ordered on the Barnes & Noble website (http://www.bn.com).