♪♪
♪♪ ♪♪
>> CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE OUT
IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY ITS
PATRONS, SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE,
PLACES AND QUALITY OF LIFE THAT
UNIQUE KNEE DESCRIBE
CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ITS
SURROUNDINGS AND BY VIEWERS
LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
♪♪.
>> SO HERE WE ARE.
NOW BACK INTO THE SUMMERTIME
WEATHER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
IN THE MIDDLE OF THE WINTER YOU
CAN GO IN AND WARM UP.
>> THIS IS A VERY SPECIAL
COMMUNITY AND I THINK IT
DESERVES A SPECIAL PROGRAM LIKE
PARADE REST.
>> FOR WHTJ, I AM TER TER.
THIS IS "CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE
OUT."
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪.
>> TODAY WE ARE GOING TO LEARN
ABOUT AN ORGANIZATION THAT IS
RESTORE
RESTORING A HISTORIC RESOURCE
THAT HAS BEEN ABANDONED FOR
MANY YEARS INTO AN EXCITING
RECREATION AND HERITAGE
DESTINATION.
JOIN US AS WE TALK WITH ALLEN
JOIN US AS WE TALK WITH ALLEN
HALE BY THE CLAUDIUS CROZET
BLUE RIDGE FOUNDATION.
ALLEN, LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
HISTORY OF THE TUNNEL AND WHY
IT WAS BUILT.
>> WELL, IT IS A VERY
INTERESTING HISTORY IN THE
EARLY PART OF THE 19th CENTURY
IN VIRGINIA, THERE WAS A GREAT
EFFORT TO MOVE TO THE SHENADOAH
VALLEY TO CONNECT THE COASTAL
PLANE WITH THE OHIO VALLEY.
AND IN THE EARLY YEARS CANALS
ARE SEEN AS THE WAY TO DO THIS
ALONG THE JAMES RIVER, THE
JAMES RIVER KANAWHA CANAL WAS
VERY FAMOUS AND IT WAS VERY
SLOW.
KIND OF LIKE RAILROADS WERE
STARTING TO COME INTO PEOPLE'S
THINKING AND THEN IT WAS
REALIZED THAT THE RAILROAD
WOULD BE COMPARED TO THE CANAL
LIKE THE HORSE TO THE MOTOR CAR
LIKE THE HORSE TO THE MOTOR
CAR.
>> RIGHT.
>> THAT SORT OF THING.
>> RIGHT.
>> SO THAT'S WHY THERE WAS
GREAT IMPETUS BEGINNING IN THE
1830s, 1840s TO BUILD RAILROADS
1830s, 1840s TO BUILD
RAILROADS.
>> OKAY.
AND SO HOW DID THIS COME TO BE?
>> THIS PARTICULAR CHALLENGE,
THE RAILROAD WAS BEING BUILT
FROM RICHMOND, WENT TO LOUISA,
GORDONSVILLE, AND WAS MOVING
THIS WAY.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND THEN THEY SAW THE BLUE
RIDGE MOUNTAINS, AND THE
PRIVATE COMPANIES THAT WERE
BUILDING RAILROADS, ALSO
STARTED ON THE VALLEY SAID.
SAID THAT PROJECT IS TOO
DIFFICULT FOR US TO UNDERTAKE.
SO THAT IS WHEN THE GENERAL
ASSEMBLY THROUGH THE BOARD OF
PUBLIC WORKS WHICH IS OUR
EQUIVALENT OF VDOT TODAY
DECIDED TO UNDERTAKE THIS 17
DECIDED TO UNDERTAKE THIS
17-MILE PROJECT FROM MEACHUM'S
RIVER TO SOUTH RIVER AND BUILD
THE RAILROAD THROUGH THE
MOUNTAINS.
>> AND CLAUDIUS CROZET WAS
HIRED.
HE WAS PRETTY IMPRESSIVE.
>> YES, CROZET WAS THE PROJECT
ENGINEER HERE.
HE WAS A BRILLIANT ENGINEER
EDUCATED AT ECOLE POLYTECHNIQUE
IN FRANCE.
IN FRANCE.
FOUGHT IN NAPOLEON'S ARMY IN
THE INVASION OF RUSSIA BUT IN
1916 HE IMMIGRATED TO THE
UNITED STATES AND TAUGHT AT
WEST POINT FOR EIGHT YEARS.
THEN THE BOARD OF PUBLIC WORKS
HIRED HIM OF VIRGINIA, AND HE
MOVED TO VIRGINIA, AND THEY
WANTED HIM TO EXPAND THE CANAL
SYSTEM.
SO HE TRAVELED ALL OVER THE
STATE LOOKING AT THE
POSSIBILITY
POSSIBILITIES, AND THEN HE
ADVISED THEM THAT RAILROAD WERE
THE ANSWER.
AND ULTIMATELY, HE WAS HIRED IN
1849 AS THE PROJECT ENGINEER TO
DO THIS TUNNEL.
AND IT WAS HIS DESIGN OF THIS
ENTIRE STRETCH --
>> RIGHT.
>> -- THAT WAS BUILT.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE DESIGN.
IT IS DESIGNED A CERTAIN WAY
FOR A REASON.
THE SHAPE OF THE TUNNEL, THE
ENTRANCE, RIGHT.
TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
DESIGN AND WE WILL GET INTO THE
DIFFICULTIES.
>> YEAH, SO THERE WERE -- THERE
WERE A TOTAL OF FOUR TUNNELS ON
THIS SECTION STARTING AT THE
GREENWOOD TUNNEL, THE
BROOKSVILLE TUNNEL, AND THE
LITTLE ROCK TUNNEL, WHICH IS
STILL ON THE LIVE TRACK TODAY
USED EVER SINCE THE 1850s.
AND THEN THE BLUE RIDGE TUNNEL
WHICH WAS THE BIG ONE, 4264
FEET.
>> WOW.
>> SO CROZET CALLED FOR AT A
HEIGHT OF 20 FEET TO HAVE 16
FEET OF WIDTH IN ORDER FOR THE
LOCOMOTIVES AT THAT TIME TO GET
THROUGH.
AND HE CONCLUDED THAT AN
ELLIPTICAL SHAPE WHICH YOU CAN
SEE BACK HERE, THAT WOULD
REQUIRE LESS BLASTING OF ROCK.
>> IT IS GREEN STONE.
RIGHT.
TALK ABOUT HOW DIFFICULT AND
TIME CONSUMING TO GET THROUGH
THIS STONE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
THIS ROCK IS CALLED "GREEN
STONE" AND SOME OF HARDEST ROCK
IN THE WORLD.
IN THE 18 50s WHEN THEY WERE
DOING THIS PROJECT.
NO NITROGLYCERIN OR DYNAMITE.
IT WAS BLACK POWDER, AND IT WAS
DRILLED -- THE HOLES WHICH YOU
CAN SEE HADN'T BEEN -- ON THE
WALL HERE WERE DRILLED BY ONE
FELLOW HOLDING A STEEL BAR WITH
-- ACTUALLY
-- ACTUAL HAD A CHISEL TIP.
AND THE OTHER FELLOW WOULD
SWING THE SLEDGEHAMMER AND
WOULD TURN A LITTLE BIT, SWING
THE SLEDGEHAMMER, TURN IT A
LITTLE BIT.
ENOUGH DUST IN THE BOTTOM OF
IT, HAVE ANOTHER -- A KID COME
AND PULL IT OUT SO IT WOULD
KEEP GOING.
THEY PACKED IT WITH BLACK
POWDER AND SHOT IT.
>> HOW LONG DID IT TAKE?
>> WELL, THIS PROJECT WENT ON
FROM 1850 REALLY -- THE RAIL
FROM 1850 REALLY -- THE
RAILROAD STARTED RUNNING.
THEY BROKE THROUGH IT AT THE
END OF 1856.
SOME MONTHS, THEY WOULD ONLY
MAKE 16 FEET.
>> BECAUSE OF THE STONE.
>> BECAUSE OF THE STONE AND THE
FACT -- AND THEY WORKED 24
HOURS A DAY.
THREE EIGHT-HOUR SHIFTS.
THEY WORKED ON TWO LEVELS.
ON THE HEADERS AND THE FLOORS
BELOW THEM SO THEY COULD HAVE
TWO CREWS HAMMERING AWAY.
>> AND AS THEY GOT TO THE OTHER
END OF THE TUNNEL, IT CHANGED A
BIT.
SO MORE BRICK WAS INVOLVED.
TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> NO, YEAH, IT IS VERY
INTERESTING BECAUSE THE
MATERIAL ON THE WEST SIDE,
WHICH IS ON THE SHENADOAH
VALLEY SIDE IS MUCH LOOSER
MATERIAL SO IT STARTED CAVING
IN ALL THE TIME.
THIS IS EXACTLY THE WAY IT WAS
WHEN IT WAS FINISHED.
YOU KNOW.
IT IS VERY SOLID.
PIECES DON'T FALL OFF.
THEY MIGHT INSIDE BUT NOT
WITHIN THE TUNNEL.
AND HE FOUND ON THAT SIDE -- BY
THE WAY, THEY WERE WORKING FROM
TWO ENDS.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
>> SO PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE
HAD TO LINE THE TUNNEL AGAIN IN
THE SAME ELLIPTICAL SHAPE BUT
WITH BRICKS.
>> NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT THE
PEOPLE WHO BUILT THIS TUNNEL.
>> WELL, THE -- AT THIS TIME,
YOU KNOW, THIS WAS FOLLOWING
THE FAMINE IN IRELAND.
SO THERE WERE THOUSANDS OF
IRISHMEN WHO CAME TO THE UNITED
STATES.
IMMIGRATED TO THE UNITED STATES
AND THEY WORKED ON CONSTRUCTION
PROJECTS.
THEY GOT PAID INITIALLY $.90 A
DAY.
SO THEY WERE THE ONES WHO
WORKED IN THE TUNNEL.
THEY HAD EXPERIENCE WITH MINING
FOR TIN AND COPPER FROM IRELAND
FOR TIN AND COPPER FROM
IRELAND, SO THEY WERE
EXPERIENCED AT THIS KIND OF
LABOR.
>> THEY LIVED THERE.
THEIR FAMILIES LIVED THERE WITH
THEM.
THEY PUT UP SHACKS AND TENTS.
>> YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
THEY DIDN'T WANT TO LIVE IN
WAYNESBORO AND CROZET WOULD
HAVE TO TRAVEL.
THEY LIVED RIGHT ADJACENT TO
THE SITE.
THE OTHER COMPONENT OF THE
LABOR FORCE WERE
AFRICAN-AMERICAN SLAVES WHO
WERE HIRED THEIR OWNERS, MOSTLY
FROM A LEMAR LE COUNTY AND CAME
AND DID WORK ON THE CUTS AND
CULVERTS.
A LOT OF THAT WORK AS YOU GO
DOWN TOWARD CROZET.
BECAUSE OF THEIR VALUE, THE
IRISH WERE CONSIDERED
DISPENSABLE.
THE SLAVES WERE TOO VALUABLE TO
PUT IN THE TUNNEL.
SO THEIR OWNER SAID THEY CAN
WORK ON THIS PROJECT, BUT NOT
IN THE TUNNELS.
>> AND IT FUNCTIONED FOR A LONG
TIME UNTIL, WHAT, THE '40s WHEN
A NEW TUNNEL WAS BUILT, AND
THIS WAS LEFT BEHIND.
>> THE NEW TUNNEL WHICH IS
RIGHT ADJACENT TO US.
YOU CAN SEE IT OVER THERE ON
THE ACTIVE TRACK STILL USED
TODAY WAS PUT THROUGH 1942-'44.
>> YEAH.
LET'S TALK ABOUT TODAY'S
PROJECT.
SO WHAT ARE THE PLANS FOR THE
TUNNEL?
>> WELL, THE TUNNEL IS GOING TO
BE OPEN SOME DAY SOON WE HOPE
AS A WALKING AND BICYCLING
TRAIL THAT WILL BE ABLE TO GO
FROM AFTON WHERE YOU PARK ALL
THE WAY THROUGH BENEATH THE
BLUE RIDGE AND THEN BE A
WESTERN TRAIL THAT COMES UP ON
TO 250 ON THE WEST SIDE.
SO WE HAVE COMPLETED, YOU KNOW,
WITH THE IDEA OF THIS HAS BEEN
GOING ON FOR ALMOST 16 YEARS,
BUT IT REALLY GOT UNDER WAY
WITH FUNDING FROM THE VIRGINIA
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO
DO THE PRELIMINARY ENGINEERING
STUDIES.
AND THEN WE BUILT PHASE ONE,
AGAIN, WITH THIS SAME FUNDING.
AND NOW WE ARE ON THE CUSP OF
GETTING A CONTRACT TO DO THE
RESTORATION OF THE BRICKWORK
WHERE IT HAS FALLEN IN AND A
NICE TRAIL WITH EVEN DRAINAGE
ON EITHER SIDE SO PEOPLE CAN
WALK ALL THE WAY THROUGH.
>> WHO DO YOU ANTICIPATE IS
GOING TO COME AND VISIT THE
SPACE AND USE THE SPACE?
>> WELL, WHENEVER WE HAVE
OFFERED PEOPLE AN OPPORTUNITY
TO VISIT THE TUNNEL, THEY HAVE
JUMPED ON IT RIGHT AWAY.
WE HAD SOME TOURISTS WITHIN 24
HOURS OF WHERE WE ANNOUNCED IT,
IT IS FULL.
EVERYONE WHO SEES THIS IS
FASCINATED BY IT.
IT'S -- IT'S AN ENGINEERING
FEAT, PROBABLY ONE OF THE MOST
IMPRESSIVE OF THE 19th CENTURY.
THIS IS THE LONGEST RAILROAD
TUNNEL THROUGH MOUNTAINS AND
THE LAST MAJOR TUNNEL TO BE
DONE WITH BLACK POWDER.
SO HISTORICAL INTEREST FROM THE
POINT OF VIEW OF ENGINEERS.
THEY HAVE A CIVIL WAR
CONNECTION IN THAT STONEWALL
JACKSOON TOOK HIS TROOPS
THROUGH IN THE TRAIN, AND 1862,
PEOPLE OF IRISH DESCENT HAVE A
LOT OF INTEREST IN -- IN THE
WORK THAT THESE IRISH WORKERS
DID.
SO IT WILL DRAW PEOPLE FROM ALL
OVER.
RAILROAD PLANS.
VMI, CROZET HALL IS NAMED FOR
HIM IN FACT.
IT WILL BE I AM SURE A VERY
POPULAR DESTINATION AND WILL
HAVE LOCAL INTERESTS, REGIONAL
AND I THINK NATIONAL INTEREST.
>> WHO MAKES UP THE FOUNDATION?
>> THE FOUNDATION WAS FORMED
WHEN WE SAW THE NEED TO HAVE A
PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP,
BECAUSE THERE WERE SOME ASPECTS
OF THIS PROJECT THAT THE
FUNDING WAS NOT ENOUGH FOR, BUT
WHAT WE ARE STANDING ON HERE
WAS THIS ROCK THAT WAS PUT IN
TO GET US ABOVE WATER BECAUSE
THERE WAS A BIG POOL OF WATER
IN THERE THAT WAS PAID FOR BY
THE FOUNDATION.
ALSO, THE PURCHASE OF THE LAND
WHERE THE PARKING LOT IS.
THE FOUNDATION CONSISTS OF
SUPERVISORS FROM AUGUSTA COUNTY
SUPERVISORS FROM AUGUSTA
COUNTY, ALBEMARLE COUNTY AND
NELSON COUNTY.
NELSON COUNTY IS THE OWNER OF
THIS PROJECT, ALL OF THE LOCAL
GOVERNMENTS HAVE PLAYED A PART
IN THIS.
>> THE CITY OF WAIPS BORO.
>> THE CITY OF WANESBORO HAS
BEEN VERY IMPORTANT PART OF
THIS PROJECT.
>> AND I HEAR WATER.
WATER RUNNING IN THIS TUNNEL.
>> YES, SCENES IN THE MOUNTAIN
AND WATER COMES IN GREAT
VOLUME, AND, OF COURSE, SURFACE
WATER RUNS OVER THE PORTALS.
BUT MOST OF THE WATER COMES
FROM WITHIN THE TUNNEL, AND THE
TUNNEL SLOPES FROM THE
SHENADOAH VALLEY SIDE TO THIS
SIDE ABOUT 50 FEET.
TO THE WATER RUNS ON EACH SIDE
THROUGH DITCHES.
SO THERE IS WATER RUNNING
THROUGH TUNNEL YEAR ROUND.
>> REALLY, FRESH BLUE RIDGE
MOUNTAIN WATER.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
DELICIOUS WATER I CAN ATTEST TO
THAT.
I HAVE PUT IT IN MY CANTEEN
MANY TIMES.
>> SO IF THE COMMUNITY WANTS TO
GET INVOLVED, HOW DO THEY GET
INVOLVED?
>> WE ARE HOPE
>> WE ARE HOPING TO EXPAND THE
WORK OF THE FOUNDATION.
SORT OF BEEN BUILDING UP WITH A
SMALL CORE GROUP, AND I THINK
MORE AND MORE PEOPLE WILL BE
ABLE TO ASSIST US WITH FUND
RAISING WHICH IS WHAT THE
FOUNDATIONS USUALLY NEED, BUT
THEN WHEN WE GET TO THE POINT
OF HAVING THIS TUNNEL OPEN,
THEN THERE WILL BE LOTS OF
ACTIVITIES, EITHER PEOPLE DOING
VOLUNTEER WORK AS GUIDES OR
VARIOUS OTHER THINGS OF THAT
SORT.
>> SO YOU HAVE BEEN WORKING ON
THIS PROJECT FOR A WHILE.
YOU HAVE BEEN PART OF THIS FOR
QUITE A WHILE.
WHAT ARE YOU PERSONALLY MOST
EXCITED ABOUT?
>> WELL, I ALWAYS -- YOU KNOW,
FROM THE VERY FIRST MOMENT I
WENT IN THIS TUNNEL, I THOUGHT
THIS IS FANTASTIC.
IT IS A HIDDEN TREASURE UNDER
THE BLUE RIDGE MOUNTAINS, AND I
ALSO FEEL LIKE I HAVE ON BOTH
SIDES OF THE MOUNTAINS.
I WAS BORN IN CHARLOTTESVILLE,
I CREW UP IN VIRGINIA AND NOW
LIVE IN NELSON COUNTY.
I WANT TO BE ABLE TO WALK
THROUGH INSTEAD OF CRAWLING
THROUGH A PIPE.
>> THIS IS SO EXCITING.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
IT'S GREAT.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
.
>>> THE SCHOOL IS ONE OF THE
DRIEST, HOTTEST PLACES IN THE
STATE.
BUT GETTING THERE ON A TRAIN IS
MARVELOUS.
I SAW SO MUCH OF THE UNITED
STATES.
I HAD NEVER BEEN EXCEPT TO WEST
VIRGINIA AND D.C. AND VIRGINIA
IN MY LIFE.
>> MOST VETERANS WILL TELL YOU
WHAT THEY MISS MORE THAN
ANYTHING ABOUT THEIR TIME IN
THE MILITARY IS CAMARADERIE.
THEY MISS FEELING LIKE THEY
BELONG.
>> ED TO WE ARE GOING TO
FEATURE AN ORGANIZATION THAT
SUPPORTS LOCAL SERVICEMEN AND
WOMEN BY PROVIDING FREE TICKETS
TO SHOWS AND SPORTING EVENTS,
SPONSORING RECREATIONAL
EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND
GATHERINGS AND SHARING
IMPORTANT ORAL HISTORIES.
THEIR GOAL IS TO CONNECT OR
RECONNECT VETERANS TO FRIENDS,
FAMILIES, AND THE
CHARLOTTESVILLE COMMUNITY AT
LARGE.
JOIN US AS WE LEARN ABOUT
PARADE REST WEST VIRGINIA.
COME ON.
>> GREG, WHAT INSPIRED TO YOU
START PARADE REST.
>> THE EXPERIENCE OF BEING
MOBILIZED AND LEAVES ANY FAMILY
MOBILIZED AND LEAVES ANY
FAMILY, THREE YOUNG CHILDREN
AND WIFE IN CHARLOTTESVILLE,
AND REALIZING THAT THIS IS A
GENEROUS COMMUNITY THAT JUST
DID NOT HAVE A MECHANISM TO --
TO EXPRESS GRATITUDE AND TO
CONNECT WITH -- WITH MILITARY
FAMILIES WHO MIGHT BE IN NEED.
>> SO WHAT -- TALK ABOUT THAT.
WHAT DOES PARADE REST DO TO
MAKE THAT HAPPEN?
>> WELL, IT REALLY STARTED OUT
AS A PROBLEMS BECAUSE I HAD
BEEN GIVEN 20 TICKETS TO A P
ARK RAMOUNT CONCERT AND WAS
ASKED TO DISTRIBUTE THEM TO
MILITARY, AND I HAD A DIFFICULT
TIME DOING THAT.
THIS IS NOT THE JOB OF THE
NATIONAL GUARD ARMORY.
THIS IS NOT THE JOB OF THE
OTHERS WHO ARE ENGAGED, AND SO
WE DECIDED TO SET UP OUR OWN
MECHANISM.
SO TO MAKE SURE THAT WE HAD
THOSE WHO WERE TRULY MILITARY
AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THEN IT
REALLY BUILT FROM THAT INITIAL
FOUNDATION.
THAT PROBLEM OF NOT BEING ABLE
TO EQUABLY DELIVER THE
GENEROSITY OF PEOPLE IN THE
COMMUNITY.
>> AN WANTING TO DO SOMETHING
NICE.
>> YES.
>> -- FOR OUR SERVICE MEN AND
WOMEN AND THEIR FAMILIES.
SOMETHING RECREATIONAL,
SOMETHING THAT YOU CAN ENJOY
AND BE AT PEACE AND RELAX AND
NOT WORRY.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
NOTHING BETTER THAN YOU CAN DO
FOR A SERVICEMEMBER THAN TO LET
HIM AND HER KNOW THAT HIS OR
HER FAMILY IS BEING TAKEN CARE
OF.
>> YEAH, AND THEN THE PROGRAM
-S OUT.
AND THE PROGRAM EVOLVED FROM
THERE, AND NOW NOT ONLY DO YOU
HAVE THE TICKETING PROGRAM, BUT
YOU ALSO ARE PART OF THIS
WONDERFUL ORAL STORY SERIES.
NICKEL FOR YOUR STORY.
TELL US ABOUT THAT.
>> THIS REALLY GREW OUT OF MY
TIME WHEN I WAS A MEDICAL
STUDENT.
BEING AROUND SO MANY WORLD WAR
I VETERANS BUT NOT REALIZING
THAT THEY WEREN'T GOING TO BE
AROUND FOREVER AND ONLY AFTER
LEARNING ON TELEVISION THAT THE
LAST WORLD WAR I VETERAN HAD
DIED THAT I REALIZED SUCH A
MISSED OPPORTUNITY.
BOTH OF MY GRANDFATHERS FOUGHT
IN WORLD WAR I, AND YET I NEVER
HAD AN OPPORTUNITY -- I NEVER
TOOK THE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK
ABOUT -- ABOUT THEIR EXPERIENCE
ABOUT -- ABOUT THEIR
EXPERIENCE.
AND THEN THE REALIZATION THAT
OUR WORLD WAR II VETERANS WERE
IN A SIMILAR SITUATION.
>> RIGHT.
>> DAILY WE ARE LOSING THOSE
MEN AND WOMEN, AND THERE IS NOW
AN OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT.
TO -- TO SIT DOWN WITH PEOPLE
AND TO -- AND TO HEAR THEIR
STORIES.
>> WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT TO
TELL THEIR STORIES?
WHAT HAVE YOU LEARNED WHEN YOU
WERE DOING THIS?
>> OKAY, GOSH.
I LEARNED SO MUCH.
FIRST OF ALL, IT IS VERY
IMPORTANT FOR THE FAMILIES.
OFTEN, THE FAMILIES HAVE NOT
HEARD THE STORIES.
>> RIGHT.
>> FAMILIES ARE VERY PROTECTED
OF SERVICEMEMBERS, FAMILY
MEMBERS, TEND TO BE STOIC ANY
MEMBERS, TEND TO BE STOIC
ANYWAY AND THE THOUGHT IS JUST
NOT TO -- NOT TO ASK.
WAIT UNTIL IT IS BROUGHT UP.
AND THROUGH THIS THIRD PARTY,
DOING AN INTERVIEW, IT ALLOWS
THE SERVICE MEMBER, THE VETERAN
THE SERVICE MEMBER, THE
VETERAN, TO SAY IF YOU ARE
INTERESTED, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN
WATCH THIS.
>> GREW UP IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
AND I NEVER BEEN ANYWHERE ELSE.
THIS WAS A WHOLE NEW LIFE.
>> I REALIZED IN TALKING WITH
THE STUDENTS THAT THEY SEE ME
NOW, AND THEY DON'T SEE ME --
I WAS 18 YEARS OLD, ALMOST 19
YEARS OLD.
I WAS THEIR AGE WHEN I WAS
DOING THIS.
AND THEY HAD JOINED THE
FORMATION, THEY WOULD HAVE DONE
WHAT WE ALL DID.
I MEAN IT IS NOT THAT UNUSUAL
OR REMARKABLE.
>> NOW YOU ALL HAVE BEEN
INTERVIEWING VETERANS OF THE
KOREAN WAR AND THE VIETNAM WAR,
NOT JUST WORLD WAR II VETERANS.
IT HAS EVOLVED INTO THAT.
AND YOU ALSO HAVE ANOTHER
WONDERFUL PROGRAM "FINDING THE
FALLEN."
TALK ABOUT THAT.
>> IN OUR CONVERSATIONS WITH
THE WORLD WAR II VETERANS, THE
TIMES OF EMOTIONS WERE OF THOSE
LEFT BEHIND, PEOPLE THAT THEY
HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW.
FRIENDS THAT THEY MADE IN THE
MILITARY WHO DIED DURING THEIR
SERVICE.
AND SO THERE WAS KIND OF A
FEELING ON OUR PART THAT THERE
WAS SOMETHING WE COULD DO TO
HONOR THOSE PEOPLE.
AND SO WE FOCUSED ON THOSE FROM
CHARLOTTESVILLE AND ALBEMARLE
AND THOSE THAT ATTENDED THE
UNIVERSITY OF WEST VIRGINIA.
THE WAR IS A GREAT LEVELLER
THOSE CITY AND COUNTY PEOPLE
FOUGHT RIGHT ALONGSIDE THOSE IN
THE UNIVERSITY AND SOMETIMES
DIED NEXT TO EACH OTHER.
>> RIGHT.
TALK ABOUT HOW THIS PROGRAM IS
CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY.
>> AFTER WE FIRST DID OUR
PROGRAM AT THE P ARK RAMOUNT
THEATRE AND SHOWED THOSE
PHOTOGRAPHS WE HAVE ALREADY
BEEN ABLE TO OBTAIN, WORKSHOP
REALLY GRATIFIED TO RECEIVE
PHOTOGRAPHS OF THOSE WHO WOULD
NOT YET GONE.
FROM FAMILY MEMBERS WHO -- WHO
WERE REALLY TOUCHED BY THE FACT
THAT WE WERE TRYING TO REMEMBER
AND MAKING THIS PART OF THE
COMMUNITY.
NOT ONLY THAT, WE ALSO HAVE
GOTTEN NAMES OF PEOPLE WE
DIDN'T EVEN HAVE.
AND SO TO GET CONTACTS FROM
RICHMOND AND LYNCHBURG AND
VARIOUS PLACES.
AND SAY I UNDERSTAND YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN MY UNCLE.
I UNDER STAND YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN MY BROTHER.
HERE IS A PHOTOGRAPH OF HIM IS
REALLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS
ABOUT IT, BECAUSE IT REALLY IS
KNITTING THE COMMUNITY TOGETHER
IN I THINK A VERY MEANFUL WAY.
>> A BIG PART OF PARADE REST
WHAT YOU ALL DO.
IN DOING YOUR RESEARCH FOR
NICKEL FOR YOUR STORY AND
FINDING THE FALLEN.
YOU ARE FINDING, FOR EXAMPLE,
B-17 FLYERS WHO DIDN'T KNOW
THERE WERE BOTH IN THE SAME
COMMUNITY.
>> YES.
>> AND YOU ARE CONNECTING.
I MEAN, THAT IS AMAZING.
>> B-17 FLIERS, FOR EXAMPLE,
THERE ARE VERY FEW OF THEM
LEFT.
SO TO FIND PEOPLE WHO ARE IN
THEIR MID, LATE-90S LIVING
INDEPENDENTLY PERHAPS TWO OR
THREE MILES FROM EACH OTHER AND
THEY DIDN'T KNOW THAT IS, IS
REALLY GREAT IN TERMS OF HAVING
AN OPPORTUNITY TO INTRODUCE
THEM TO EACH OTHER.
SO THERE ARE SERENDIPITOUS
ASPECTS OF THIS THAT ARE THERE.
>> PROBABLY MY FAVORITE OF THE
EVENTS THAT WE DO IS CALLED
"OUR COMMUNITY SALUTES" BECAUSE
THE WHOLE POINT OF IT IS TO
BRING IN HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATES
WHO ARE INVESTING IN THE
MILITARY, AND WE WANT THEM TO
KNOW THAT THIS COMMUNITY CARES
ABOUT WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
AND TO LET THEM KNOW THAT WHEN
THEY ARE DONE IN THEIR SERVICE,
WHETHER IT'S FOUR YEARS OR 40
YEARS, WE WILL BE HERE WAITING
FOR THEM WHEN THEY COME BACK.
>> IT IS A GRASS-ROOTS SORT OF
THING.
GLUE HERE.
AND IT CONTINUES TO GROW HERE
WITH LOCAL POPULATION, AND
THERE ARE SO MANY OF THEM.
THAT YOU WOULD NEVER GUESS
UNLESS SOMEBODY GOES TO THE
TROUBLE OF SEARCHING THEM OUT.
>> A LOT OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE
WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN.
TALK ABOUT UVA'S INVOLVEMENT.
>> CERTAINLY THE UNIVERSITY OF
VIRGINIA HAS HAD A BIG STAKE IN
MILITARY SERVICE.
THEY HAVE ALWAYS MAINTAINED AN
ROTC PROGRAM, EVEN DURING THOSE
-- THOSE TIMES IN THE '60s AND
's AND HAVE CONTRIBUTED GREATLY
-- AND '70s.
>> AND UVA STUDENTS ARE
CONDUCTING THE STORIES FOR
NICKEL.
>> THEY ARE DOING THE
INTERVIEWS AND WORKING VERY
CLOSELY WITH DEDICATED
VOLUNTEERS AND THEY ARE DOING
THE RESEARCH FOR FINDING THE
FALLEN AS WELL.
SO IT REALLY HAS PROVIDED AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR STUDENTS THAT
-- THAT IS MEANINGFUL AS PART
OF THEIR EDUCATION.
>> AND HELP TO DESIGN THE
TICKETING SYSTEM.
THEY ARE VERY, VERY INVOLVED,
AND THEN THE COMMUNITY IS
INVOLVED.
WE HAVE VETERANS WHO ARE ON THE
BOARD.
WE HAVE GOT COMMUNITY MEMBERS
WHO ARE ON THE BOARD, WHO ARE
COMING TOGETHER TO MAKE THIS
HAPPEN, NOT JUST U VA.
NOT JUST VETERANS.
NOT JUST THE COMMUNITY.
EVERYBODY.
>> THAT IS THE WAY IT SHOULD
BE.
I MEAN IF YOU THINK ABOUT THE
CONTRIBUTION OF THOSE IN THE
CITY AND IN THE COUNTY AND THE
UNIVERSITY, A SHARED COMMITMENT
WITH REGARDS TO NATIONAL
SECURITY AND -- AND SERVICE, IT
ONLY MAKES SENSE THAT -- THAT
THIS IS SOMETHING THAT -- THAT
THEY CAN WORK WITH HAND IN
HAND.
>> SO IF SOMEONE IN THE
COMMUNITY WANTS TO GET INVOLVED
IN PARADE REST, WHAT DO THEY DO
IN PARADE REST, WHAT DO THEY
DO?
>> WE HAVE A WEB SITE, AND THEY
CAN CALL THE NUMBER ON THE WEB
SITE, AND LET US KNOW WHAT THEY
WOULD LIKE TO DO, THEIR
INTERESTS, AND -- OR SEND US AN
E-MAIL.
I'LL TELL YOU, VOLUNTEERS HAVE
JUST BEEN SO CRITICAL AND
FUNDAMENTAL TO OUR SUCCESS, AND
THAT'S REALLY WHAT IS SO
GRATIFYING FOR US TO SEE THE
COMMUNITY GETTING ENGAGED.
>> YOU MIGHT HAVE SERVED IN
AFGHANISTAN.
AND YOU MIGHT HAVE SERVED IN --
IN AN AIR FORCE BASE IN NORTH
DAKOTA, BUT YOU LOVED YOUR
COMMUNITY, AND NOW YOU HAVE
COME BACK AND RECONNECTING WITH
FAMILY CAN BE DIFFICULT
SOMETIMES AND PROVIDING AN
OPPORTUNITY FOR THOSE FOLKS TO
CONNECT AT LITTLE OR NO COST IS
A GREAT THING FOR US TO DO
HERE.
AND THIS MEANS A LOT TO ME.
>> THERE IS NOT A LOT OF US.
WE ALL SEEM TO BE A LITTLE BIT
OLDER THAN WE WERE, BUT THERE
WERE PEOPLE THAT I WOULD HAVE
PASSED ON THE STREET AND YOU
WOULD NEVER THINK OF THEM AS
VETERANS.
AND THEY ALL HAD INTERESTING
STORY
STORIES AND INTERESTING
EXPERIENCES.
>> PARADE REST IS REALLY A
PLATFORM FOR WHICH WE CAN
CONNECT THE COMMUNITY IN THE
MILITARY.
>> RIGHT.
>> ONE OF THE THINGS ABOUT
PARADE REST IS TO FIND THE
COMMONALITY
COMMONALITIES AND TO -- TO
REPORT THES SO THE FUTURE
GENERATIONS CAN BENEFIT.
>> AND I BELIEVE YOU SAID THAT
MANY OF THE -- MANY OF THE
VETERANS DID NOT THINK OF
THEMSELVES AS HEROES AT ALL.
THE PEOPLE THAT THEY CALL
HEROES ARE THE FALLEN.
>> YES, YES.
AND SO ESPECIALLY HONORING THEM
IS -- IS IMPORTANT.
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ALL OF US.
IT IS IMPORTANT TO FAMILY
MEMBERS WHO LOST MEMBERS.
BUT ALSO TO -- TO VETERANS AND
THOSE OF US IN THE COMMUNITY.
AND FINDING THE FALLEN AND AND
SECURING THEIR PHOTOGRAPHS
MAKES IT REAL FOR PEOPLE, I
THINK.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪ ["TAPS"]
>> THAT'S IT FOR THIS WEEK.
FOR WHTJ, I AM TERRI ALLARD,
JOIN US NEXT TIME ON
"CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE OUT."
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
.
>> CHARLOTTESVILLE INSIDE OUT
IS MADE POSSIBLE THANKS IN PART
TO ITS PATRONS, COMMITTED TO
SUPPORTING THE PEOPLE, PLACES
AND QUALITY OF LIFE THAT
UNIQUELY DEFINE CHARLOTTESVILLE
AND ITS SURROUNDINGS AND BY
VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
THANK YOU.
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