Meet Christine Wynd of Chesterfield, Va.

American Battlefield Trust: How were you first introduced to the Trust, and what motivated you to join?

Christine: I was first introduced to the Trust through the Army Historical Foundation and Museum. I am a founding member of that organization, and as an Army veteran, I am very interested in military history. I firmly believe in the mission of the Trust and decided to focus my membership and donations on the Trust’s activities.

Which facet of our organization’s activities most strongly resonates with you? 

Preservation and restoration of historical battle sites is extremely important, yet I also appreciate the myriad of educational efforts used to further enhance the history of these sites. I’ve already learned so much more about the American Revolution and the Civil War through the efforts of the Trust’s educators and their use of technology, including the YouTube videos, animated maps, podcasts, augmented reality, and now the current battlefield scenes blended with past, historical photos. I became a Color Bearer to help support these high-priority, educational resources that are incredibly important to present and future generations.

Which battlefield sites that you’ve visited have left the most profound impact on you?

Gettysburg has profoundly influenced my life for many years and in many ways. When I was very young, my family visited Gettysburg and I was hooked! I’ve attached a photo taken in the mid-1950s that shows me standing with my mother and brother outside of Lee’s Headquarters. Many years later I attended the Army War College at Carlisle Barracks and took every opportunity to visit Gettysburg and learn more about its history. I fortunately helped to instill a love for history in my daughter who in turn attended Gettysburg College and majored in American history and Civil War Era studies. She met her husband at the College where he too was studying the Civil War. I hope to continue this legacy by encouraging my grandchildren to love history. They are young but have already been to many battlefields in Virginia. We live just outside of Richmond.

If you could meet any historical figure, who would you choose and why?

What would you like to pass on to future generations? 

When people find out about my interest in history, they share a wish that they’d paid more attention to history during their youthful educations. I would like to encourage young people not to wait until they are older but to take pleasure in learning about history now. History is like a puzzle whose pieces come together to provide meaning to the larger picture of human struggles and successes. History is not dry, . . . the bringing together of historical facts just makes sense.

Is there anything else you want to share? 

I would just like to acknowledge the Trust and its staff members who truly do a fine job. I hope to become increasingly active in my membership and make even a tiny contribution to historic preservation and education that is so vitally important to our future.