After nearly 13% of the National Park Service staff received termination notices earlier this year, many of those devoted to history turned out at the Eternal Peace Light to rally behind our Rangers and other staff of the National Park Service.
More than 75 people came out in the rain to voice their support for the truthful history that our National Park Service offers to us all. Scott Hancock, a professor at Gettysburg College, was particularly critical of the new Interior Department directive telling visitors to report staff if they offer anything negative about American history or personalities. History, he said, includes both the good and bad and it is up to visitors to decide how to evaluate it.
Kevin Levin, the historian who called the rally, talked about his own introduction to investigating history after a visit to a National Park three decades ago. Being at the site where so much happened brought it home to him how important our history was to was to present day life.
The rallyers chanted “Don’t Whitewash History” and “We Stand Behind Our Rangers” for nearly two hours as the cold, wet day turned into night.
When the demonstrators shouted out where they came from, states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Tennessee, South Carolina, Virginia, Connecticut, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Delaware, New Hampshire, and New York were all yelled out.
While the National Park Service is under attack fiscally and ideologically, those who use the Park system to recreate, exercise, discover the wonders of nature, and explore our history stand united with the staff of scientists, historians, Rangers, maintenance people, and park police who provide an excellent experience for visitors whether they are billionaires or gas station attendants. The parks are there for all the people, regardless of wealth.
Please call your Congressperson and Senators to tell them how opposed you are to the cutbacks proposed in the budget bill.
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