President: Howard Lambert; Vice President: Gregory A. Mertz; Treasurers: Peter Mocarski and Peggy Mocarski;
Secretary: Peggy Misch (newsletter editor)
Board of Directors: Elicia Belle, Jane Brookins, Don Carlson, Helen Geisler, Wilfredo Golez, Myra Lane, Larry Pullen, and Paul Warmack
Culpeper Battlefields Park Dedication Ceremony on June 8, 2024
Ribbon Cutting for Culpeper Battlefields State Park on Fleetwood Hill, Brandy Station
The long-awaited opening of Culpeper Battlefields State Park took place on Saturday, June 8th. Governor Glenn Youngkin and First Lady of the Commonwealth of Virginia, Suzanne Youngkin were in attendance for the dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting.
As BSF President Howard Lambert noted in May: “Over the last several months, the Foundation has been working closely with the Department of Historic Resources and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation to meet all requirements to execute the transfer to DCR of approximately 22 acres of BSF property for the establishment of Culpeper Battlefield State Park - Phase I, including the removal of debris on the Golden Oaks parcels.
Of course, our support of the state park goes back to 2015. I offer my heart felt thank you to the leadership and past members of the Board for your hard work in making the Culpeper Battlefields State Park at Brandy Station a reality.”
Governor Youngkin participated in the firing of a cannon at Culpeper Battlefields State Park
For Phase One of the acquisitions for the new Culpeper Battlefields State Park, 22.01 acres on the western approach to Fleetwood Hill, called the Golden Oaks parcels, were donated by the Brandy Station Foundation. In a letter dated December 15, 2015, the BSF had sent a letter of commitment to the Civil War Trust to support a Brandy Station and Cedar Mountain Battlefields State Park in Culpeper County signed by Joseph W. McKinney, BSF President from April 2011 to April 2106. It summarized the contributions that the Brandy Station Foundation could make to ensure the park’s long-term success.
During his term as President from 1998-2008, the late Robert (“Bob”) Luddy led the Brandy Station Foundation in protecting, through purchase, over 43.5 acres of land. The land included a Fleetwood Heights parcel in 1998 and three Golden Oaks parcels in 2005. In 2006, the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Historic Resources recognized the significance of the Golden Oaks property “which was the scene of heavy fighting during the Battle of Brandy Station. The Brandy Station Foundation purchased this property from Golden Oaks Construction Company, Inc. and proposes to preserve and interpret the property as a Civil War site.”
Conservation easements were approved by the Department of Historic Resources for BSF’s Golden Oaks and Kelly’s Ford properties. Luddy worked with many other individuals and organizations on these preservation and conservation efforts. The late Culpeper attorney and former Brandy Station Foundation Vice President Edwin F. Gentry was a key mover in the acquisition of the Golden Oaks parcels.
The Brandy Station Foundation also held an Open House on June 8, 2024 to commemorate the opening of the first phase of the Culpeper Battlefields State Park and the 161st Anniversary of the Battle of Brandy Station. The event included speakers, a living history encampment by the 23rd United States Colored Troops, and Graffiti House tours.
Jeff Joyce, pictured above, a reenactor with the 7th Maryland Infantry, USA, visited the Graffiti House on June 8th and signed the Hall of Honor as a relative on J.E.B. Stuart. The Hall of Honor is downstairs on modern drywall and descendants of soldiers who were in Culpeper County during the Civil War are invited to sign their name and the name of the soldier they are a descendent of below that soldier’s state flag. Local high school students painted the flags of the states of the soldiers who found themselves in Culpeper County.
The keynote speaker, pictured above, was Gregory B. Elder, Chief Historian, Defense Intelligence Agency. He spoke on “The Bureau of Military
Information and the Intelligence Campaign in 1863”.
The Bureau of Military Information (BMI), the first formal American intelligence agency, was active during the Civil War.
Other speakers during the day include: “Civil War Trailblazers and Trouble Makers” presented by Gene Schmiel (featuring some of the trailblazers and trouble makers who were at Brandy Station during the battle on June 9, 1863); “Juneteenth - A Day of Celebration” presented by Rev. Adrian Sledge (Juneteenth, the June 19th federal holiday, is the date which celebrates the enforcement of Abraham Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation in Texas on June 19, 1865); and, “Battle of Brandy Station” presented by Frank O’Reilly.
President’s Corner
Greetings,
It is my honor to provide an update on the activities of the Brandy Station Foundation. It has been a summer of major events at the Brandy Station Foundation. None bigger than the dedication of the Culpeper Battlefield State
Park at Brandy Station. On Saturday, June 8th the dedication ceremony took place on Fleetwood Hill before tens of members, friends, and dignitaries including the Governor Youngkin of the Commonwealth of Virginia. The state park was the culmination of years of advocacy and hard work. Many thanks go out to Joe McKinney and the many board members, friends and supporters over the years who initiated the effort to turn parts of the Brandy Station Battlefield into a state park. I would also like to thank the Commonwealth of Virginia and both houses of the legislature for supporting the park and providing the necessary funding as well as the Virginia Department of Historic Resources and the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. Thanks also go out to the American Battlefield Trust for being partners in the effort. We can rest easy knowing that generations to come will have the opportunity to reflect on the sacrifices of many at one of the most significant battles during the American Civil War.
To view the entire dedication ceremony view below:
The Brandy Station Foundation also hosted an Open House at the Graffiti House following the park dedication. The event included tours of the Graffiti House, a living history encampment, and guest speakers throughout the day. The keynote speaker was Greg Elder, Chief Historian of the Defense Intelligence Agency. The next planned activity this year is a Brandy Station Battlefield 5K & 10K run on September 28th with some proceeds from the event going to the Brandy Station Foundation. The race starts and ends in Brandy Station Battlefield at the entrance to Buford Knoll walking trail (North end of the Culpeper Airport) off of Beverly Ford Road." Details at https://bishopsevents.com/event/2024-brandy-station- battlefield-5k-10k/. Our annual Holiday Party will be held on December 7th at the Graffiti House. The Brandy Station Foundation will also take part in the Pohanka Christmas Tree Challenge again this year. The Foundation received more than
$4,000.00 in funding last year from our participation.
In closing, we are continuing to make repairs and improvements to the Graffiti House and surrounding grounds. We have submitted an application to the county for a permit to commence work on the foundation. We are hopeful that the plans will be approved and that work may commence in late August. In addition, the Display Committee is scheduled to meet later this month and recommend improvements primarily to the first floor of the Graffiti House. On the grounds, two dead trees were removed and there are plans to resurface the driveway in the coming weeks. The Foundation, with financial assistance provided by Culpeper Tourism, recently installed a Civil War Trails marker in front of the Graffiti House “Walls That Talk.”
In closing, I would like to thank you for supporting the Brandy Station Foundation. It has been a very successful summer. However, there is still much to be done. It was through your support that the state park became a reality. I encourage you to continue to support our events and reach out to family, friends and co-workers to pay us a visit. We look forward to seeing you at one of events later this year.
Sincerely, Howard Lambert
President, Brandy Station Foundation
New Civil War Trails Graffiti House marker
The installation on August 2nd of the official Civil War Trails® marker for the Graffiti House, on right in photo, is another recognition of the importance of the Civil War-era house in Brandy Station.
The Graffiti House is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and has been recognized as a Virginia Historic Landmark. The BSF has been pleased to work with Civil War Trails® on the new marker. Vice President Greg Mertz has been the lead for the BSF on this effort.
The CWT website reveals that it is an organization which been working withcommunities since 1994 to share their stories and connect visitors with small towns across a network that now spans six states: “Travelers look to Trails to put them in the footsteps of the generals, soldiers, citizens, and the enslaved who found themselves in the midst of this Civil War. Today the program guides visitors to more than 1,200 sites.”
Upcoming Brandy Station Foundation Events
Please check our website for upcoming events,
2024 Pohanka Christmas Tree Challenge
[The Brandy Station Foundation is participating in the 2024 Pohanka Christmas Tree Challenge. This is an event sponsored by Pohanka Nissan of Fredericksburg Dealership. This event is dedicated to raising funds to assist non profit organizations that live in the area and are legally established as 501(c)3. Free four- foot trees are distributed to participants who then decided on a theme, decorate the tree, and reach out to area merchants and individuals for commitments for donations. In 2023 Kim Harmon, Betty Franklin, and Myra Lane took on this project.]
Calling all Brandy Station Foundation Members to help us with the 2024 Pohanka Christmas Tree Challenge! by Event Committee member and Graffiti House volunteer Kim Harmon
Would you please help us with gifts for under our tree this year? Do you know someone in the Culpeper or Fredericksburg area that has a business that would be willing to donate a gift certificate or gift basket? If you don’t feel comfortable asking a business to donate a gift certificate or basket maybe you could put together one for a donation.
Some examples of just a few items that were donated in 2023 were: A basket was donated filled with a variety of hot cocoa mixes, card games, and jigsaw puzzles. Another basket that was donated contained several bottles of local wine. We had gift certificates from a couple of boutiques, bakeries, and restaurants. Just to give you a few ideas. Please remember the more gifts under the tree the higher the bid at the Gala [in Fredericksburg] on December 14! We will need the items no later than Tuesday – October 15th.
Please let Committee members Betty Franklin, Myra Lane or Kim Harmon know if you are donating a gift basket or certificate. You can also email the BSF with a message about your donation for the Christmas Tree Challenge to the BSF email: bsfgh1863@gmail.com
Thank you so very much for your help in advance!