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Area residents are invited to join historians Sarah Kay Bierle and Jon Tracey at New Market Battlefield State Historical Park for a fundraiser battlefield tour to support Wreaths Across America on Sunday, Oct. 1, from 2 to 4 p.m.
The walking tour will cover approximately 1.5 miles of sloping terrain, and Tracey and Bierle will share about the Battle of New Market fought on May 15, 1864, stories of soldiers and cadets, and the lengthy process of laying the fallen to rest — many in Winchester National Cemetery.
Tickets are required for the fundraiser tour and are $25 per person and may be acquired at https://emergi ngc iv i lwa r. c om/e cwevent/2023-wreaths/.
Wreaths Across America is the prominent nonprofit coordinating these memorial wreath-laying efforts during the holidays. In the northern part of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester National Cemetery takes part in this ceremony. At this location, more than 5,500 service members are buried — many United States volunteers from the American Civil War.
This year Emerging Civil War historians are hosting the battlefield tour fundraiser to help purchase and place more wreaths in Winchester National Cemetery.
A virtual-only history fundraiser program is also offered for those unable to attend the battlefield tour inperson. For a $17 donation, virtual donors will receive a link on Saturday, Oct. 7, to a recorded history program and discussion of some of Bierle and Tracey’s new research about the Battle of New Market and Winchester National Cemetery. Tickets for the virtual program may also be acquired at https:// emergingcivilwar.com/ecwevent/2023-wreaths/.
Bierle and Tracey are donating their research time and battlefield guiding skills with the goal of fundraising $3,000 through the battlefield walk and virtual program to assist Wreaths Across America in placing more wreaths at Winchester National Cemetery.
They both work in the history field and hold volunteer positions as editors and board members at Emerging Civil War, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation that hosts a public history-oriented platform for sharing original articles related to the American Civil War and connecting with a supportive group of up-andcoming researchers and historians.
