Press Release May 23, 2011

National Parks Conservation Association Applauds Walmart's Decision to Protect Wilderness Battlefield

Statement by NPCA President Tom Kiernan

“After months of intense debate and a successful legal challenge led by the Wilderness Battlefield Coalition, we are pleased with Walmart’s decision today to build a proposed Orange County Superstore in a more suitable location that will preserve and protect Wilderness Battlefield, next to Fredericksburg and Spotsylvania National Military Park.

“Working together to preserve Wilderness Battlefield, we have reached an alternative that protects this priceless historic landscape that tells our shared story, remains compatible with the national park’s meaning and character, and benefits the citizens of Orange County. As we commemorate the 150th anniversary of the U.S. Civil War, Americans must continue to work together to protect these sacred places that bring history to life, for our children and grandchildren to experience and enjoy.”

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About National Parks Conservation Association
Since 1919, the nonpartisan National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA) has been the leading voice in safeguarding our national parks. NPCA and its more than one million members and supporters work together to protect and preserve our nation’s natural, historical, and cultural heritage for future generations. For more information, visit www.npca.org.

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