|
NATIONAL PARK SERVICE MORNING REPORT Monday, December 10, 2007 =============================================================================================================== INCIDENTS Antietam National Battlefield Special Event: Annual Memorial Illumination The park held its 19th annual memorial illumination on Saturday, December 1st. Nearly 1,400 volunteers placed and lighted 23,110 luminaries (candles inside paper sacks weighted down with sand) throughout the battlefield. Each candle represented a soldier who was killed, wounded, or reported missing following the September 17, 1862 battle. The event is the largest illumination event held in North America. Event sponsors include the NPS, the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau, and the American Business Women's Association. Approximately 1,900 cars and buses drove through the park during the viewing period. The opening ceremony was held at the Maryland Monument, with remarks by Superintendent J.W. Howard, Congressman Roscoe Bartlett, and other local officials. There were no incidents during the event. Traffic control and security for the event was provided by Antietam staff, rangers from several other National Capital Region parks, the Maryland State Highway Administration, the Washington County Sheriff's Department, Hagerstown REACT, and members of the secretary's protection detail. [Ed Wenschhof, Chief Ranger] OTHER NEWS The following stories (among others) can be read on InsideNPS (internal) or NPS Digest (external): Everglades NP - The park, dedicated by President Truman on December 6, 1947, celebrated its 60th anniversary last week with a number of events. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6056" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6056 Office of Legislative and Congressional Affairs - This week's update on past and upcoming hearings and the status of legislation pertinent to the National Park Service. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6057" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=Announcements&id=6057 Intermountain Regional Office - Neil DeJong, chief of interpretation and education, planning, and environmental quality for Intermountain Region, has announced his retirement, effective January 3rd. Photo. HYPERLINK "http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1758" http://home.nps.gov/applications/digest/headline.cfm?type=PeopleNews&id=1758 * * * * * Prepared by the Division of Law Enforcement, Security and Emergency Services, Washington Office, with the support of the Office of the Chief Information Officer and Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. Edited by Bill Halainen ( HYPERLINK "mailto:Bill_Halainen@nps.gov" Bill_Halainen@nps.gov, 570-686-3828). --- ### --- |