Park to honor CCC's 75th anniversary

Prince William Forest Park has a lot to celebrate this weekend, including the 75th anniversary of the organization that built it.

About 30 members of the Civilian Conservation Corps Legacy, an alumni organization, are coming from across the country for a reunion that will include, in part, oral histories of their experiences.

Additionally, the national park will hold a National Public Lands Day event beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday. Hundreds of volunteers will repair and rehabilitate the buildings and trails originally built by the men of the CCC in the late 1930s.

Admission to the park is free on Saturday.

"We cannot think of a more appropriate time to both honor and learn more from these CCC members about they did and the skills they acquired here and throughout the nation," said Bob Hickman, park superintendent. "This is a great way to learn much about this park's history and to also give back to members of what many call the 'Greatest Generation.'

"We are honored to be part of this reunion and celebration," Hickman said.

The CCC was a work relief program for young men from unemployed families between the ages of 17-25. It was part of President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal legislation, designed to combat unemployment during the Great Depression.

The job of the CCC at the park was to build five cabin camps to provide the residents of the urban communities in the region a place to experience the simpler ways of camp life.

The National Public Lands Day opening ceremony will begin at 9 a.m. in Cabin Camp 3, also known as Camp Orenda, followed by the volunteer work projects. The ceremony will include special guests from the National Park Service; National Public Lands Day, the conservation corps network; CCC alumni; and the event's sponsor, Toyota Motor Company.

A tree planting ceremony will kick off the day in honor of the 75th anniversary of the CCC and as the ceremonial one-millionth tree planted within national public lands since Arbor Day in April.

The National Park Service adopted National Public Lands Day as its "fee free" day in 2004, and it is the only day that entrance fees are waived at national parks across the country.

The staff at Prince William Forest Park encourages park friends and neighbors to take advantage of the "fee free" day by getting reacquainted with the park or join the volunteer event.

Admission to the Prince William Forest Park is usually $5 per vehicle.

For more information or to register to be a National Public Lands Day volunteer, call the park visitor center at 703-221-7181 or visit the park Web site at www.nps.gov/prwi. To learn more about National Public Lands Day, visit www.publiclandsday.org.

Staff writer Aileen Streng can be reached at 703-878-8010.