Funds being raised for exhibit

BRAVO (Battlefield Restoration and Archaeological Volunteer Organization) hopes to raise funds for a park cannon at the 230th re-enactment of the Battle of Monmouth on June 21-22 at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, Route 33, Manalapan. Monetary donations will help the organization purchase the memorial to be placed in front of the visitors center.

"This will be the first thing visitors will see as they approach the building," said Dan Sivilich, BRAVO president, "and will make an excellent spot for photos."

The Battle of Monmouth occurred on June 28, 1778 in Monmouth Courthouse (Freehold) when the Continental Army struck the rear of a British army which was on its way from Philadelphia to New York. As the British retaliated, U.S. Gen. George Washington took refuge on a hill behind an artillery line. He beat back British attacks and won one of the largest battles of theAmerican Revolution. In the largest field artillery engagement of the war, the American artillery saved the day for the Continental Army, according to a press release from BRAVO.

Legend grew following the war of the courage of Mary Hays (Molly Pitcher), who attended a cannon on Perrine's Hill after her husband fell. Mary, the wife of gunner William Hays, helped by running round after round of the heavy cannon cartridges from the ammunition box to the loader at the muzzle of the gun.

BRAVO has been conducting archaeological surveys at the park for years. By locating British ordnance, the location of the American artillery line has been located. A gun position on the north end of the artillery line has been identified by dropped American grapeshot. This is in the vicinity of the historical accounts of whereMolly Hays bravely assisted the artillery unit. Two wayside exhibit panels have already been purchased and placed on the hill where this event occurred.

According to BRAVO, donating a reproduction French 4-pounder will acknowledge Molly Hays' courage and the role of women during the American Revolution. Although the project began in 2004 and $32,000 has already been raised for the casting of the bronze tube and making of two wayside exhibits, the group still needs $20,000 to $30,0000 for the carriage and last wayside exhibit.

The carriage will be made out of epoxycoated aluminum so that it is maintenance free (and reasonably vandal proof). This is what the National Park Service uses at many historic sites, according to the press release.

A commemorative wayside panel will be dedicated to the major contributors.

According to the project motto, "Our Future Is In The Past - Help Us Preserve Our National Heritage."

BRAVO, a nonprofit volunteer group, primarily assists the state in restoring state-owned and state-operated historic military sites through archaeological surveys, primary source research, cleaning, cataloguing and analyzing artifacts, computer data analysis and report preparation.

C

urrently, BRAVO is conducting several

archaeological surveys at Monmouth Battlefield State Park, among other sites. For further information, visit the BRAVO Web site at http://bravo_nj.tripod.com.