Washington, DC - Today, Congressman Andy Barr (KY-06) introduced legislation that amends the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act which was signed into law in March 2019. This bill will sync the legislative and executive branch naming of the park. Specifically, it will change from "Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument" to "Camp Nelson National Monument". This will allow the monument to receive signs with the correct name to highlight the importance Camp Nelson had during the Civil War.
Camp Nelson, located in Nicholasville, Kentucky, was established by the Union Army in April 1863 as a supply depot and hospital. This site evolved into a key emancipation site, recruitment and training center for African American soldiers, and a refugee camp for their families during the Civil War. In October 2018, Camp Nelson was designated as a National Monument by President Trump as a result of a recommendation from U.S. Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke.
"Camp Nelson has a special place, not only in the history of the Commonwealth but also in the history of our nation," said Congressman Barr. "This legislation will provide an accurate representation of Camp Nelson's name on its national monument which is a tribute to the men and women who fought for their freedom."
"Camp Nelson National Monument is an invaluable asset to our community and one of the many attractions that makes Jessamine County beautiful and unique. It is my understanding that when Camp Nelson received its National Monument status that it was incorrectly named, therefore making it impossible to obtain proper signage," said Nicholasville Mayor Alex Carter. "I would like to give my full support to the name being corrected so that we may continue to properly honor this historic site."
"Continuing to properly honor Camp Nelson is crucial to preserving the history and culture of Jessamine County, Kentucky," said Jessamine County Judge Executive David West. "I support the proposed legislative name correction from Camp Nelson Heritage National Monument to Camp Nelson National Monument."
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