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Our host state park was Twin Lakes – Anne Reeder, Manager. Our host national park was Appomattox National Historical Park – Reed Johnson, Superintendent.

             Friday’s activities began with breakfast at the Cedar Crest Conference Center while enjoying a beautiful view of Prince Edward Lake. At 8:00 a.m., we boarded the bus to begin our touring activities for the day.

             Wendy Lee Oliver had prepared a narrative describing the battles and historic events that took place at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park, our first stop, and along the route between Sailor’s Creek and Appomattox. She did a great job in the role of “tour guide” by giving us some fascinating information as we rode.

             Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park is truly a special place. On April 6, 1865, nearly a quarter of Confederate General Robert E. Lee’s army, more than 7,700 men were killed, wounded, or captured in this battle. General Lee surrendered his army three days later at Appomattox Court House.

             We were met at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park by two Federal soldiers in full field dress uniform and a uniformed Confederate prisoner of war. In real life, the two Federal soldiers are members of the Saylor’s Creek Reenactment And Preservation Committee and the Confederate prisoner of war is the Chief Park Ranger.

             They told us about the terrain, the gun emplacements, and the troop deployments. The Confederate prisoner of war led us on a tour of the historic Hillsman House and the artifacts on display there. This house served as a field hospital for both northern and southern soldiers. Then, the Federal soldiers gave us “up close and personal” instruction on how to load and fire an artillery field piece. Did you know that the gun crew for each such artillery piece totaled eight, each having a designated task(s)?

             Back on the bus, Wendy Lee Oliver continued her narration about the events that transpired as the Confederate army moved from Sailor’s Creek to Appomattox Court House. Arriving at Appomattox National Historical Park, we were welcomed by Superintendent Reed Johnson.

             Superintendent Johnson had also arranged a “period presentation” for us. He introduced us to a citizen of Appomattox Courthouse (the Town Clerk) who was dressed in 1860’s garb and asked the citizen to tell us about the  recent events of “the last few months” and the related  impact on the town of Appomattox Court House.

            The Town Clerk, who in real life is a National Park Service Interpreter, sat us on the porch of the Clover Hill Tavern and kept us spellbound for an hour as he described how the town had changed as the armies arrived, the surrender was effected, and the armies left. He spoke without notes, spiced his stories with references to other local citizens of the time, and stayed “in role” for the entire period.

             After the Town Clerk excused himself to return to his “clerking duties”, we were free to roam the Park at will. And we did. Wow! Returning to the bus at the appointed time, we headed to a local park in the area where we were served a delicious box lunch, compliments of the Saylor’s Creek Reenactment And Preservation Committee.

             Following lunch, it was back on the bus for the return trip to Twin Lakes State Park. The weather was brisk and damp. Anne Reeder called ahead and the Cedar Crest Conference Center staff met us with much appreciated hot drinks. After warming up and taking a short breather, it was back on the bus for a tour of Twin Lakes State Park.

             This park is steeped in history. Through historic photographs, interpretive signs, and a wonderful presentation by the Park’s interpreter, we learned of the park’s history as two segregated facilities prior to the Civil Rights Act of 1964. One facility was centered on Prince Edward Lake and the other on Goodwin Lake.

  In the late 1980’s, the name Twin Lakes State Park was bestowed. The park now offers overnight accommodations including a full service campground, group camping facilities, and housekeeping cabins. Cedar Crest Conference Center overlooking Prince Edward Lake is available for family reunions, business and training meetings, wedding receptions, etc. Swimming, fishing, lakefront picnicking, and snack bar facilities are available at Goodwin Lake. Hikers, bikers, and equestrians can take advantage of a multi-use trail developed in conjunction with Prince Edward State Forest.

 Our schedule provided a much needed rest break following the twin Lakes tour. We reconvened at 6:00 p.m. for “hospitality hour” followed by a wonderful dinner. After dinner, we were treated to remarks from Sandy Rives, Virginia’s National Park Service spokesperson, and from Joe Maroon, Director of Virginia’s Department of Conservation and Recreation. 

Our keynote speaker was Senator Emmett Hanger, a good friend of the Virginia State Park System. Senator Hanger has served nine years in the House of Delegates and is now in his third term in the Senate. Throughout his career, he has been a supporter of the Park System and its needs. The Senator is also an accomplished guitar player and singer. To our great pleasure, he included several songs along with his remarks. 

Reed Johnson was our first speaker at the business meeting on Saturday. He helped us to understand the mechanics of the process followed in developing the National Park System’s annual budget. 

Next, Joe Elton, Virginia State Park System Director, spoke on a variety of issues confronting the park system and took numerous questions from the floor. As usual, he did a great job of informing the attendees about the “state” of the state park system. 

Following Joe, were the “officer reports”. These reports provided clear and convincing evidence that VAFP is becoming an increasingly recognized presence at both the state and national levels. 

Johnny Finch, VAFP President, then turned over the gavel to Roy Allan Dudley, Nominating Committee Chair. Roy provided the attendees with a copy of the by-laws as amended from actions in the two prior conferences and explained the gist of those changes. He also conducted a vote on the Executive Committee’s proposal to reduce the number of its positions from seven to five and on the Committee’s proposed slate of candidates to fill those five positions. Both the proposed reduction and the proposed slate of officers were adopted unanimously.

Roy said that he would send to each VAFP member, individual and organizational, a copy of the revised by-laws. He suggested that we further discuss changes at the 2005 Spring Conference, and then adopt the revised by-laws at the 2005 Fall Conference, the annual meeting. Once this is completed, copies of the approved by-laws, as revised, will be provided to IRS, Virginia Office of Consumer Affairs, etc.

Resuming control of the gavel, Johnny opened the floor for attendee questions and discussion items. Topics raised during this period included the use of bio-solids on land abutting parkland; the reenactment to be held at Sailor’s Creek Battlefield Historical State Park in early April, 2005; the Northern Neck Birding Trail; and the status of Jamestown 2007. 

We adjourned at noon on Saturday. In 2005, we again will have a Spring Conference and a Fall Conference. Information about these conferences will be posted to the VAFP website (www.virginiaparks.org) as soon as arrangements are firm. We hope that you will join us at either or both of these conferences!