Thank you to all who volunteered on September 9, 2011 at Valley Forge National Historical Park in King of Prussia, PA!

YOU CLEAN UP WELL!

The amount of work completed at the Valley Forge National Historical Park truly amazed our friends at the National Park Service. With our volunteers help, we were able to save the NPS more than $22,000 in labor costs when budgets are very tight.  This savings enables them to use those funds for other important projects.  Additionally, volunteers helped to:

•  Repair 14 Riparian Buffer Fences along Valley Creek which were damage in hurricane Irene. The fences protect the vegetation in the buffers from deer browse, and the buffers protect Valley Creek and provide habitat for wildlife along the creek
•  Plant, mulch, and shelter 300 seedling trees to re-establish the tree screen between the park's historic landscape and the Pennsylvania Turnpike
•  Remove invasive species mullein from 23 acres and cut vines on roughly 4.5 acres
•  At the PC Knox Estate - Remove improper and hazardous (tripping hazard) concrete mortar from main entrance, prep and paint pantry area, and remove 60 lineal feet of damaged iron fence at Library Lane

Special thanks

About Valley Forge National Historical Park The picturesque, rolling hillsides of 3,600-acre Valley Forge National Historical Park are a peaceful reminder of freedom won by men’s sacrifices long ago. It was here that General George Washington forged his Continental Army into a fighting force, during the winter encampment of 1777-78.

No battles were fought, no bayonet charges or artillery bombardments took place. Nonetheless, some 2,000 soldiers died – more Americans than were killed at the battles of Brandywine and Germantown combined. Valley Forge is the story of an army’s epic struggle to survive against terrible odds, hunger and disease.

Here, too, is a reminder of our nation’s diversity. Washington’s troops were the most racially integrated of any army our country fielded, up until Vietnam. An estimated 5,000 soldiers of African descent served in the Continental Army. Native Americans also played a role; members of the Oneida Indian Nation in particular had a crucial impact during the Valley Forge encampment.

To learn more, visit www.valleyforge.org