Goals

The Sesquicentennial of Lincoln’s Grand Review of the Army of the Potomac will take place on November 12, 2011. As the original review consisted of 70,000 Soldiers divided into seven marching divisions, the Sesquicentennial will consist of approximately 5,000 Soldiers/Civil War civilians and local citizen organizations divided into five marching divisions. Each marching division will be headed by a ceremonial detachment and marching band representing each of the five uniformed services (Army – Navy – Air Force – Marines – Coast Guard). The Parade will include a large contingent of active personnel from the U.S. Armed Forces and Virginia National Guard.

The placement of the major public art work in the form of a bronze statue of President Lincoln at the Grand Review will be created by the world renowned sculptor of historical monuments, Ron Tunison, of Cairo, New York. The miniature model of the monument was unveiled on June 11, 2009 at An Evening with Mr. Lincoln at the Kennedy Center. You may view a page of images of the model here.

The Lincoln at the Crossroads Alliance (The Alliance) will also facilitate the placement of Virginia Civil War Campaign Trail signs along Route 7 (between City of Alexandria and Falls Church, Virginia) and on Columbia Pike (between the Air Force Memorial and Annandale). The Alliance anticipates coordination with the jurisdictions of Alexandria, Baileys Crossroads, Arlington County, Fairfax County and Annandale in the development and placement of these signs denoting activities directly connected to Lincoln’s Grand Review or other significant Civil War events. This objective would have an expected completion date of 2015 being the 150th anniversary of the end of the Civil War.

A renowned Civil War artist will be commissioned to create the official painting of the Grand Review of 1861 and the five Civil War paintings by other Civil War artists will be announced shortly.

A handsome portfolio of the above six paintings enriched by period illustrations with a written text on each Northern Virginia community will be edited by professional military historian Kim B. Holien.

Objectives

The Alliance has commissioned a painting of the Grand Review of 1861 and is planning five other paintings related to Civil War events around Bailey’s Crossroads.

Another objective is to create a commemorative medallion of the Grand Review.

A petition has been made to the Citizen’s Stamp Advisory Committee for the issuance of a stamp on the Grand Review of 1861 and Julia Howe Ward’s Battle Hymn of the Republic.

An art exhibit, place to be determined, on November 9-12, 2011 and a concert to be held at on November 11, 2011 with the participation of one of the Armed Forces Bands, e.g. the Marine Band, is also envisioned. Locations to be determined.

On November 10-11, 2011 lectures will be held at Northern Virginia Community College/Alexandria Campus on The Founding of Bailey’s Cross Roads; The Grand Review of 1861; The History of Barnum and Bailey Circus & Great Northern Virginia Elephant Hunt of 1906; and, Bailey’s Crossroads Today.

There is also a plan to hold two Civil War Balls on November 10-11, 2011. On November 9, 2011 an Artist Reception will be held where the public will be invited to meet the six renowned artists and the sculptor Ron Tunison.

Lincoln At The Cross Roads Alliance Newsletter

For interesting information and updates, please enjoy our newsletter.
June 2010 Edition.

Progress and Plans

2009 was an exciting year for LATCRA and 2010 looks to be as exciting if not more so.

2009

The year 2009 saw the LATCRA Website up and running (thanks to Dave and Linda Joswick). Our event at the Kennedy Center in June starring Jim Getty as President Lincoln and introducing Ron Tunison’s scale model of the Lincoln Statue was an outstanding success. So much so that a follow-up event is being planned later this year! (more on that in the following paragraph).

The incomparable Ed Bearss (retired Chief Historian of the National Park Service) has agreed to be the Grand Marshall for the Grand Review! Because of his vast knowledge and limitless energy in conducting Civil War tours for the Smithsonian he is sometimes referred to as ‘America’s Last Living Civil War Veteran’.

LATCRA participated in the 2010 Combined Federal Campaign and  on April 1, 2010 will receive notice of its fundraising success.  Several organizations endorsed LATCRA, first it was the Lincoln Bicentennial Commission, followed by the Lincoln Group of the District of Columbia, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, the Fairfax County History Commission, the Northern Virginia Association of Historians and the Virginia Tourism Corporation.
  
A wonderful Gala Dinner and silent auction was held at Willard’s Intercontinental Hotel on November 4th featuring the Honorable Frank Williams as the keynote speaker and William B. Styple unveiling his new book, Tell Me About Lincoln. This was filmed by C-Span and you may view the evening’s activities at: http://www.c-spanvideo.org/program/id/214992.

This was followed in December by the announcement of Target Corporation that they would be donating the land along Route 7 for the placement of Ron Tunison’s monument. What wonderful news!!!

LATCRA submitted a grant application, under the sponsorship of Fairfax County to VDOT for the Beautification of Leesburg Pike (Route 7) between South George Mason Drive and Columbia Pike, to include the landscaping around Ron Tunison’s monument. Responses to grantees will be received in April.

In December the LATCRA met with the leadership of the Victorian Society of Falls Church to assist us in organizing a Grand Ball for re-enactors to be held on November 11, 2011, the day before the Grand Review and a Tea on November 19, 2011 at the Willard Intercontinental Hotel to commemorate the writing of the Battle Hymn of the Republic the next day.

2010

This is a most critical year for LATCRA! The hard work of the past two years needs to be complimented by the completion of goals as we move closer to November of 2011. This month the website will be updated and hopefully the Bailey’s Cross Roads historical tour will be completed.

We are in need of two more distinguished members for our Board of Directors so please think of people and bring them to Maria Elena’s attention.

Four more painters will be requested to join our ranks to complete the various painting options concerning the Grand Review and the war around Bailey’s Cross Roads.

Continued support needs to flow to Ron Tunison who along with his wonderful wife, Alice, continue to be big supporters of LATCRA.
               
LATCRA will continue with the Combined Federal Campaign as well as Grant Writing and the development of Promotional Kits for the media. Another event is planned for the fall starring Jim Getty on ‘Lincoln and his Leadership Lessons’.

As LATCRA looks down the calendar to the November 2011 reenactment of President Lincoln’s Grand Review we need to start to consider our approach to the local school systems and to the local civil and veteran’s associations to have them become partners with us in this grand endeavor. For the schools we will be looking at developing educational kits along the elementary, middle school and high school level. We also want to involve the various civic/service organizations in the greater Bailey’s Cross Roads area as well as all of the various veteran organizations in Northern Virginia and the Metro region. If you have any good ideas or know of persons to contact please send your suggestions to meschacknies@latcra.org.