Media inquiries: Please contact Dave Neudeck, dave.neudeck@dcr.virginia.gov, 804-786-5053.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Date: September 05, 2012
Contact:
Virginia State Parks to mark Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance with volunteer opportunities
(RICHMOND) - Next week, Americans will honor victims, survivors and heroes of the 9/11 attacks. Virginia State Parks, managed by the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, will provide opportunities in all 35 state parks to gather in public service on the National Day of Service and Remembrance on Sept. 11.
Since Congress created the special day in 2009, Americans across the country have united on Sept. 11 to honor those who came together in the days and weeks after the attacks.
"Our 35 Virginia State Parks have always been places where people find therapy for the mind, body and spirit in nature and escape the turmoil of the modern world," said DCR State Parks Director Joe Elton. "It is fitting and proper for us to gather in the quiet tranquility of state parks to honor the memories of the lost and celebrate the efforts of those who sacrificed during those dark days and weeks. In our state parks on Sept. 11, we will build up, restore, create and remember that the goodness of the human spirit is stronger than the darkest motives of terrorists."
All Virginia State Parks will provide volunteer opportunities, ranging from trail and park cleanups and beautification projects to collecting food and toiletries for shelters and veterans.
Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge will collect donations, Sept. 1-14 for the nearby Fort Belvoir Fisher House, a "home away from home" for military families while they visit a loved one during hospitalization for an illness or injury. Visitors also will have the opportunity to make cards for the recovering soldiers.
Other park initiatives include the collection of canned goods and non-perishable food for local homeless shelters at Twin Lakes in Prince Edward County. Shoreline cleanup will take place at these state parks: Claytor Lake in Pulaski County; Fairy Stone in Patrick County; Smith Mountain Lake in Bedford County; Caledon in King George County; Westmoreland in Westmoreland County; and New River Trail in Pulaski County.
Pocahontas State Park in Chesterfield County will host a volunteer training event and park familiarization tour.
A complete listing of the Sept. 11 National Day of Service and Remembrance activities in Virginia State Parks can be found on the Virginia State Parks calendar page.
EDITORS: This shortened link will go to the calendar page, too. http://a.ly/6DY