From the National Park Service (http://www.nps.gov/) via our friend Tom at densho.org :
Help Uncover History
You are invited to help the National Park Service conduct archeological investigations and stabilization at historic Merritt Park. Built by Japanese Americans while they were interned at Manzanar, Merritt Park is the largest single landscape feature at the Historic Site, and the largest remaining at any of the relocation centers. Numerous historic photographs reflect Merritt Park’s importance to the internees.
Now, Merritt Park is buried by sediments and overgrown with vegetation. Uncovering and restoring the park will help increase visitor understanding of the internee experience.
National Park Service Archeologist Jeff Burton is recruiting volunteers to assist with this project. Work will be from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily, May 19 to May 31, July 21 to August 1, and August 30 to September 2, 2008. You may volunteer any number of days, and any number of hours, but a full day (and multiple days) is preferred. The work will be conducted outdoors, regardless of weather. Please be prepared.
If you are interested in participating and for local lodging options, please contact Manzanar Volunteer Program Manager, Carrie Andresen at 760-878-2194 x2714 or Carrie_Andresen@nps.gov.
See NPS info at http://www.nps.gov/manz/supportyourpark/volunteer.htm
[Image here by the National Park Service shows Earth Systems Science, Incorporated, a volunteer youth group that participated in past years' volunteer events at Manzanar.]
