The Call to Serve and Preserve our Nation

Pat, Billy, and Kiel stand next to the monument they just worked on

HPTC/ Bill Arey

The following is an acknowledgement to the success of a program for citizens whose passion for serving our nation was refocused into serving and preserving National Parks. The Veterans Trades and Apprenticeship program offers vets who served post 9/11 an opportunity to learn preservation trades. In a collaboration with the Historic Preservation Training Center, National Park Service and Stewards Individual Placement Program comes a new program that involves the nation's veteran’s growth, learning and development in the historic preservation field.

Admirable apprentices have completed a long list of projects in only a matter of months. Veterans, Billy and Pat, are new to the preservation field and since starting back in March, they have learned the skills of the trades in preservation. Billy and Pat are currently stationed at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park. Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is rich with military history. In 1863, the Union and Confederate soldiers of the Civil War fought over Chattanooga territory. This battle would go down in history as the “death-knell of the confederacy.” As a matter of fact, 155 years ago this week is when the Union army invaded Chattanooga and the Confederate army moved further south to LaFayette, GA, which would lead to the Battle of Chickamauga.

Billy and Pat find a connection to Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park’s history. Preservationist Kiel Rommel at Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park wanted Billy and Pat to gain passion for preservation. Pat explains, “When we first started working with Kiel, he explained to us why preservation was important and significant in protecting the Nation's treasures. Kiel used a scenario on if he and his crew found an ax owned by George Washington. Although this never happened, this is what would happen if they did:

“Let’s say we find George Washington’s Ax and the wood is starting to deteriorate, we replace the wood handle with a new handle. Is it still George Washington’s ax? Sort of. Now let’s say the the Ax head is rusting and you want to replace it, so you buy a new ax head to replace the old one. Do you still have George Washington's at the end of the day? No, you have a completely new ax altogether. The goal of Preservation is to keep the appearance and significance of the original historic fabric as much as possible.” -Kiel Rommel

Pat showing his metal work

HPTC/Bill Arey

Below are answers from Billy and Pat on their experience and expectations so far with the program.

How did you hear about the Veterans Trades Apprentice Program?

Billy: I was looking for a job and came across it on the internet. Read about it and became interested.

Pat: Compensation Work Therapy which is through the Veterans Association.

What were your expectations in this program?

Billy: I didn’t have a lot of expectations. I didn’t know what to expect but I have enjoyed the experience.

Pat: I knew I would be working in historic preservation but wasn’t really sure what that exactly meant.

What is your connection with the battlefield/park?

Billy: Being new to the area, I’ve only been to some of the areas of the park but have learned a lot about the history of the battlefield. I now consider myself connected due to the amount of work I’ve put into the park.

Pat: The Monuments we have worked on gives me a sense of pride. It gives me a connection to the battlefield and a part of its history.

What has been your favorite project you've worked on?

Billy: The making and molding of the fasces scrolls on the 18th Ohio monument.

Pat: Making bronze molds like state seals, plaques, and components.

What is the hardest project you've worked on?

Billy: Cleaning and preserving Point Park.

Pat: Point Park Wall. It wasn’t that it was hard but a lot of work was time consuming. Billy and I really needed to be a team and work as one to get it done.

What have you learned from you supervisor?

Billy: Kiel Rommel has provided more than we could ask for. He has provided us with any and every opportunity and training that has been available.

Pat: Anything from preservation to basic labor skills.

Have you received any feedback from the public?

Billy: We’ve received feedback on how well the monuments look and needed the care we are giving.

Pat: We often have repeat visitors that comment on our work or are curious about what we do at the battlefield.

Since starting this program, do you want to pursue a career in historic preservation?

Billy: Would like to have the opportunity to pursue preservation.

Pat: I would like to pursue a career in NPS in general but would specifically like to be a preservationist if given a choice.

The following is a complete list of Billy and Pat’s accomplishments

04/16/18 - 06/15/18:
• Clean 79 stone monuments and treat with D-2.
• D-2 treatment only on 5 stone monuments and 15 headstones at Dyer Cemetery.
• Cold wax 118 bronze plaques and 7 components.
• Hot wax 7 bronze plaques, 3 seals, 1 statue and 2 components.
• Clean, paint and restored 70 plaques/stanchions.
• Cleaned 11 plaques, 17 stanchions.
• CCA/CAC 14 monuments. Cleaned 8 Wayside Interp. Patios.
• Straightened 15 plaque/stanchions.
• Straightened 3 stone monument makers.
• Training for Zero-turn lawn mower, wood-chipper, weed-eater, driving vehicles, pulling trailers and ROM.
• Weed-eat around monuments, stanchions, and cannons.
• Mow grass around the Dyer house.
• Cut down, chipped and removed 8 trees on the Chickamauga Battlefield. .
• Exotic Plant Management on the Flowered Skullcap “Scutellaria Montana”.
• IPM for Fire ants around stone monuments.
• Removed/reinstalled 3 plaque/stanchions. One was for road construction.
• Reinstalled 2 plaque/stanchions the Rossville Post office. That have been removed for a few years.

06/18/18 - 06/22/18: Orchard Knob
• Clean 13 stone monuments and treat with D-2.
• Cold wax 25 bronze plaques and 1 component.
• Hot wax 12 bronze plaques, 1 seal and 2 statues.
• Cleaned, painted and restored 1 plaque/stanchion.
• Equipment maintenance on the pressure washer.
• Trim trees away from monuments, and spray herbicides in needed areas.
• Weed-eat around monuments, stanchions, cannons and sidewalks.
• Clean and remove trash, leafs and debris around all of Orchard Knob.

Billy painting a sign for the park

HPTC/Bill Arey

Moving forward, the veteran cohort of the Traditional Trades Apprenticeship Program hopes to continue to assist in providing exposure to the preservation field to those who serve our country. Billy and Pat are excellent examples of how effective and valuable the integration of veterans are to NPS’s mission. With Pat and Billy’s hardwork and dedication to preserving NPS’s National Monuments, they both feel like they have continued to serve through preserving America’s history.