NPS awards $27K grant to preserve WWII sites on Saipan

WASHINGTON—The National Park Service announced today $1.2 million in grants that will be used to help communities preserve and protect America’s significant battlefields, to include a project in the Northern Mariana Islands for $27,000.

From lesser known battles that took place before the American Revolution to those fought as a part of World War II, historians and preservationists will use these funds to study and preserve battlefields that capture the American story across the United States and its territories.

In the CNMI, $27,000 will be awarded to Ships of Exploration and Discovery. This project seeks to place the Battle of Saipan coastline area that contains the remains of both American and Japanese aircrafts, ships, and other battle vehicles on the National Register of Historic Places, while supplying additional site identification and documentation of artifacts to provide additional historical context. The information will assist local communities to create better strategies of heritage tourism.

“We are excited to partner with public and private organizations committed to protecting and preserving our country’s historic national treasures,” said acting National Park Service director Michael T. Reynolds. “Through these grants, and the work the grantees are accomplishing, we are ensuring that these hallowed sites are protected and maintained for future generations.”

This year’s American Battlefield Protection Program planning grants provide funding for projects at endangered battlefields ranging from the Indian Wars to the unification of Hawaii and the American Civil War. Earlier this month Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke announced $7.2 million in additional grants to help identify, preserve, and protect nearly 1,200 acres of battlefield land as part of the American Battlefield Land Acquisition Grants program.

Since 1996, the American Battlefield Protection Program has awarded 579 planning grant awards totaling $19,620,955 to help preserve significant historic battlefields associated with wars on American soil. Federal, tribal, state, and local governments, nonprofit organizations, as well as educational institutions are eligible for the battlefield grants, which are awarded annually.

More information about the American Battlefield Protection Program Battlefield Planning Grants is available online atwww.nps.gov/abpp/grants/planninggrants.htm. (PR)