Thanks for writing. I definitely understand.

I was fortunate enough to call Brian my friend, and more importantly, my mentor. I greatly appreciated his generosity with a newbie and his ongoing willingness to read and comment upon my work. For a long time, nothing I wrote went out without his blessing.

We also shared the same undergraduate college, Dickinson College. That always gave us another common topic to discuss.

Whenever I was in the DC area, I always arranged for us to get together and share a meal. I value those times most of all.

I miss Brian and his wise counsel on an almost daily basis.

As a side note, I enjoyed hearing Brian tell the film’s producer (Rob Hodge from Wide Awake Films) to put everything back after Rob moved items on Brian’s desk. That was so Brian. 🙂

We are in need of another nationally recognized figure like Brian and like a Jerry Russell (who died in 2003, a year before this video was filmed, and obviously on Brian’s mind at the time) to galvanize the masses to support various preservation causes.

The Civil War Trust has done excellent work to save thousands of acres over the years–in some cases, thanks to the money that Brian left the Trust–but I feel like the movement has been rudderless without strong leaders like Brian and Jerry.

Todd

Join the Civil War Trust, an organization whose sole purpose is the preservation of historic Civil War battlefield property. There are many different levels of membership.

We are, if I may paraphrase a famous Civil War quote, “the last reserve of the last Army of the Republic.” If we can’t save it, it won’t be saved.

Our kids, grandkids and all future generations will thank us.

Mike Peters

Wow!

As I’ve told you before, the longest E-mail I ever received from Brian was in reply to one I sent congratulatying him for a preservation award. It was like a father or grandfather bragging about children or grandchildren. The passion oozed from the words.

Man I miss him!

Three Cheers & a tiger!

Respectfully,

Mike