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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E947-E948]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
TRIBUTE TO BILL NEIKIRK
______
HON. HAROLD ROGERS
of kentucky
in the house of representatives
Friday, October 9, 2020
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Madam Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to
Bill Neikirk, co-founder and first President of the Mill Springs
Battlefield Association (MSBA), as we celebrate the fruits of his
tireless labor to preserve southern Kentucky's historic Civil War
battlefield. Bill Neikirk led the charge to secure 900-acres of land
and the battlefield's iconic structures in Pulaski and Wayne counties,
which are now designated as a National Monument in the National Park
System (NPS).
In 1991, the National Park Service identified the Mill Springs
Battlefield as one of the 25
[[Page E948]]
most endangered battlefields in America. Since that day, I have worked
hand-in-hand with Bill Neikirk, the MSBA, the American Battlefield
Trust and stakeholders in Pulaski and Wayne counties to rescue the
expansive Civil War site of the first major victory for the Union Army
in the western theater. The Battle of Mill Springs was the second
largest battle to take place in Kentucky with some 17,000 soldiers
engaged in the fight. During the battle, Confederate General Felix
Zollicoffer became one of the first Confederate generals to die in the
Civil War. He was laid to rest under a large white oak tree on the
battlefield, now known as the Zollie Tree.
In 1993, the Mill Springs Battlefield was designated as a National
Historic Landmark, catapulting multifaceted efforts to secure
additional tracts of land from Nancy to Monticello, Kentucky. In 2006,
we worked together to build a $1.7 million, 10,000 square-foot
Visitor's Center and Museum, adjacent to the Mill Springs National
Cemetery. The value of preserving these hallowed grounds became the
driving force behind the local mission to have the Mill Springs
Battlefield designated as part of the National Park System. On July 17,
2018, I invited Bill to Capitol Hill to testify before the U.S. House
Committee on Natural Resources about the intensive preservation efforts
of the MSBA and the desire to present the fruits of their labor to the
National Park Service for everyone to enjoy. Bill's heartfelt testimony
was a key turning point in this monumental endeavor. Highlighting the
long-time legislative efforts to protect our beloved battlefield for
future generations, the Mill Spring Battlefield National Monument Act
was signed into law by President Donald Trump on March 12, 2019, and on
September 22, 2020, Interior Secretary David Bernhardt officially
established our new national monument as part of the National Park
System.
Over the years, funding was sometimes scarce and doors were often
closed, but Bill Neikirk maintained an unwavering resolve to see the
Mill Springs Battlefield earn its rightful place in the national
spotlight. It has been one of the greatest honors of my service as the
U.S. Representative for Kentucky's Fifth Congressional District to work
alongside such a great friend and champion for our region, and to see
the final victory of this battlefield to now be included in the
National Park System. The people of southern Kentucky owe Bill Neikirk
a great deal of gratitude for preserving this rare jewel in our
history.
____________________