(April 2006) WASHINGTON, D.C. - Brian Pohanka, who died last June, left $1 million to the Civil War Preservation Trust, the largest of his bequests to Civil War preservation groups.

The Trust announced the gift Feb. 23. Spokesman Jim Campi struggled to come up with words sufficient to describe Pohanka's contributions over the years.

Of the nationally known historian, reenactor and preservationist Campi said, "Few people have given more of their time and talents to the Trust." Pohanka spoke at Trust events, including a key rally in the successful effort to save the former Mullins Farm at Chancellorsville.

Pohanka and his wife, Cricket Bauer, also quietly gave the Trust $1 million in 2004, plus other amounts over the years. Pohanka was a co-founder of the Association for the Preservation of Civil War Sites, a predecessor of the Civil War Preservation Trust.

He said the latest million will be the "first major contribution" to the Trust's revolving fund. The money is kept on hand to be immediately available to buy battlefield land "in case of emergency," he explained. The fund is replenished as circumstances allow.

"Very often we're finding that in order to get a contract on property, we need money up front almost immediately, when there's no time to apply for federal, state or local grants," Campi said. "Brian's bequest will be used again and again and again to save battlefield land."

Gifts to the CWPT Brian Pohanka Memorial fund totaled $20,892. "Our plan is to leverage that with federal and state funding to at least double the value of the generous gifts to the fund," said Campi.

Citing Pohanka's passion for battlefields in Virginia, he said the funds will probably be used to purchase battlefield land in that state.

The Trust named Pohanka its Preservationist of the Year in 2004. "It was one of those rare occasions when he acknowledged receiving an award," recalled Campi. "He and his wife were very modest. But he knew at that point he was terminally ill and wanted to get the word out."

Trust President James Lighthizer stated in a press release announcing the gift, "From the very beginnings of the Civil War battlefield preservation movement, Brian Pohanka led the charge. He not only gave of his time and talents, but frequently reached into his wallet as well. We at the Civil War Preservation Trust are proud to carry on the work he began nearly two decades ago."

Pohanka also left $500,000 to the Central Virginia Battlefields Trust, $500,000 to the Richmond Battlefields Association, and $200,000 to Save Historic Antietam Foundation (November 2005 Civil War News).

Cricket Bauer, who will formally join the 28-member board of directors at the Trust's annual meeting in April, said her husband "placed an immense value on the preservation of our Civil War battlefields. To see the sites he so cared about perpetually protected will be a fitting tribute to his life and his work."

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