Three-minute interview: Cate Magennis Wyatt
By: Bill Myers
Examiner Staff Writer
February 27, 2009
 |
|
Cate Magennis Wyatt
|
In 2005, Cate Magennis Wyatt incorporated the Journey Through Hallowed Ground Partnership, a nonprofit group that links local community heritage groups from Gettysburg through Northern Virginia. The partnership works to raise awareness about the rich history of the corridor. In January, the partnership handed out scholarships to several Loudoun County teachers for advanced history training.
Why did you incorporate the partnership?
What was abundantly clear was that each community took pride in the cultural heritage and history of their own backyard. We had an opportunity to truly create a national treasure.
What makes it possible to discuss this is that the entire strip is basically connected by one road corridor: The old Carolina road. It dates to Native Americans, actually. It enables any traveler to travel the route and step into a time warp.
What’s your proudest moment so far?
We’re extraordinarily proud that Congress passed into law ... the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Act.
I was up in Gettysburg listening to Ken Burns last year, and there was a line of people waiting to get things to have Burns autograph. And this park ranger turned to this little kid and ... just to talk about something, said, ‘Do you know about the Journey Through Hallowed Ground?’ And he puffed out his chest and said, ‘Do I know it? I walked it!’ Personally, that was a very lovely moment.
Has awareness of the heritage raised or declined? Do people moving here from other parts of the country know what they’re stepping into? Do they care?
We did a public opinion poll of voters from Gettysburg down through Northern Virginia and asked, ‘Does it matter to you? Do they know they’re commuting through the battlefield that was home to the largest cavalry battle in American history, or where Clara Barton worked?’ And the results were off the charts. Americans really care about the historical value of this region.
