October 2019 CWRT Meeting: James Lighthizer on Battlefield Preservation

James Lighthizer: The Nevins Freeman Address: Battlefield Preservation On October 11th Jim Lighthizer, President of the American Battlefield Trust, will discuss the history of Revolutionary War, War of 1812 and Civil War battlefield preservation in America, and how place-based education on this land can teach present and future generations of Americans about their country’s history, values and culture. Many of our nation’s most important principles and ideals were made real on battlefields through the sacrifices of citizen soldiers, and place-based teaching effectively tells this story of the creation and defining of the United States, warts and all: one of the greatest ever told. James Lighthizer is president of the American Battlefield Trust. Prior to his tenure at the Trust, he served as the Secretary of the Maryland Department of Transportation and two terms as County Executive of Anne Arundel County, Md. Jim’s years of public service began in 1979 when he was elected to the Maryland State Legislature. In 1982, he was elected to the first of two terms as Anne Arundel County Executive, where he successfully managed a full-service budget in excess of $800 million. In 1991, Jim was appointed as Maryland’s Secretary of Transportation. Jim created an unprecedented program that to date has saved more than 4,500 acres of Civil War battlefield land in Maryland and is the national model for the use of Transportation Enhancement funds for battlefield preservation. In December 1999, Jim accepted the presidency of the organization now known as the American Battlefield Trust, and more than 50,000 acres of battlefield land have been saved throughout his tenure.