On July 21, 1861 the first battle of the Civil War was fought in Manassas.
Depending on where you are from, it was called the First Battle of Manassas or the First Battle of Bull Run, but regardless, it is the foundation of our city’s history.
The 150th anniversary of that battle is coming up in 2011, and Creston M. Owen, chairman of the board of Virginia Civil War Events Inc., is looking for money to hold the party to end all parties.
Balls, reenactments and concerts will be part of the festivities commemorating the anniversary, and Owen’s hope is that a high-profile celebration will bring dollars pouring into our area.
But to make money, we have to spend it, which is why Owen is hitting up the state, Prince William County and Manassas for funding.
Recently, Owen sought and received a $100,000 commitment from the City of Manassas. Of that, $50,000 will initially be paid out with the remainder dependent on a commitment from the county of about
$250,000. Both of those numbers will, hopefully, be dwarfed by a state offering of $1 million.
Manassas did the right thing by leading the way with a monetary commitment to this event. Hopefully its example will spur the county and state to spend as well.
It is true that Manassas is enduring tough economic times, just like everybody else, but it can’t let the economy dampen the need to invest in the city’s future.
Councilman Mark Wolfe acknowledged that some may question the wisdom of the city’s decision, but he also pointed out that this is an opportunity that won’t come twice.
“This is a once-in-a-lifetime, God-given chance for our community to stage something that can give and give and give,” he said at a council meeting on Nov. 9.
And so it will. Small Manassas attracts tourists principally because of its historic context. The 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War is an opportunity to take a humble tourist attraction and turn it
into gold.
The city isn’t throwing cash in a bucket and tossing it into the ocean, it’s taking a risk that an investment now will give us even more come 2011. That’s a safe bet and a risk all county residents should be
willing to take.
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