Ready, aim, sell: Civil War goes corporate

AP ^ | September 6, 2002 | DAVID DISHNEAU

[stainlessbanner]

HAGERSTOWN, Md.--And now, the slaughter at Bloody Lane, brought to you by F&M Bank.

Corporate sponsors and 13,000 Civil War buffs will come together next week to re-enact the bloodiest day on U.S. soil, the Battle of Antietam.

For the first time at such an event, three of the almost 40 participating companies are exclusive sponsors of specific skirmishes.

In addition to the fighting at Bloody Lane, where 5,500 men were killed or wounded, spectators can watch the daybreak clash in the Cornfield, sponsored by Antietam Cable, and the afternoon arrival of Confederate Gen. A.P. Hill's men--presented through the courtesy of Hagerstown Trust.

The sponsors also include the investment bank Salomon Smith Barney, PepsiCo and Allegheny Energy, a Fortune 500 company headquartered near the re-enactment site, 1,000 privately owned acres about 70 miles north of Washington and 10 miles from the real battlefield.

Never have so many corporations been part of a Civil War re-enactment, and never so visibly, though their representatives will be stationed in a sponsors' tent near the entrance gate, and logos will not be allowed on the battlefield.

Glenn LeBoeuf, Salomon Smith Barney's representative at the Sept. 13-15 event, said it is a chance to reach prospective clients he, as a former re-enactor, knows well.

During his 13 years playing a private in the 3rd New Jersey Volunteer Infantry, ''I never got a chance to talk about investment portfolios while I was in camp because it was inappropriate to do so,'' LeBoeuf said. He is hopeful the re-enactors won't mind talking business at the corporate tent.

His company is paying $1,000 to have LeBoeuf there.

Event organizers say sponsors' dollars and in-kind donations, totaling more than $140,000, will help them stage more realistic clashes and raise more money for battlefield preservation.

''Our corporate sponsors understand the commemorative nature of this event and its solemn and respectful nature,'' said Dennis Frye, co-chairman of the organizing committee.

And there is no indication of resentment on the part of re-enactors, who are such sticklers for authenticity that some have been known to count the threads on their uniforms to make sure the fabric is historically accurate. Some say the corporate backing is needed to keep down the costs of admission: $10 to $25 for re-enactors, $17 per day for adult spectators.

''It's just another way for them to make money,'' said Don Harrelson, of Virginia Beach, Va., who is president of the American Living History Society and will portray a member of the 3rd Georgia Regiment.

[stainlessbanner]

Is nothing sacred anymore?

[stainlessbanner]

Bump

FReepmail to get on/off dixie list : )

[Constitution Day]

Not sure what to think about this.
My first thought... I don't like it. Don't like it one bit.

Good night,
CD

[vetvetdoug]

I used to organize reenactments and the costs are extremely high. I think this is a novel idea and helps defray the costs away from participants and the spectators. For instance, the liability insurance alone for a small reenactment of roughly 1000 reenactors fifteen years ago was $12,000. I will never organize another reenactment, the time involved was too much for one that has a real job.

[stainlessbanner]

I was a little unsure about corporations getting involved with re-enacting. As you said, it can be very expensive. In know in FL, the high costs and payouts have caused considerable controversy (over films, rights, etc.).

I just hope the reenactors don't sport Nike shoes and Wrangler jeans. Let's hope it doesn't get as flashy as nascar : )

One more thing, corporations' job is to make money, very little is done just for "charity" - I'm sure they will reap rewards for this.

[patriot5186]

and logos will not be allowed on the battlefield
for a moment there i had pictures of nascar-like logo covered soldiers converging on one another

[stainlessbanner]

I never got a chance to talk about investment portfolios while I was in camp because it was inappropriate to do so,'' LeBoeuf said

Modern-day carpetbagger. Trying to take over and run things where he shouldn't be.

[Capriole]

I know it seems disgusting. But Revolutionary War reenactments have had corporate sponsorships for some time. This past winter, for example, some splendid Revolutionary events were sponsored by local banks and other corporations, and their assistance allowed the participants to put on a far better event, involving and affecting far more spectators and educating the public about our magnificent history. Meanwhile, the RevWar reenactors themselves, who for the most part put a tremendous amount of time, energy, and MONEY into this hobby, don't have to pay an additional fee to participate and often enjoy other perquisites, like food and shelter, on the corporation's tab.

Civil War reenactments are staggeringly expensive to stage. Even the small events require organizers to put in a full-time effort for many months--not something an employed person can do. When there are 15,000 reenactors, 125 cannon, and perhaps 60,000 spectators to organize, you can understand why corporate sponsorship is becoming necessary. Within the last few years we've seen that the people who enjoy this hobby want one big megaturbo-farbfest event each year. But if corporations don't foot the bill, they won't happen. And that means that many Americans won't have the chance to learn about nineteenth-century history and material culture through this medium.

That said, I have to add that as a reenactor I prefer the tiny by-invitation-only hardcore events during which we immerse ourselves in the life of the nineteenth century.

[CWRWinger]

I prefer the tiny by-invitation-only hardcore events

Yes. And I can't see these events costing that much. There is a Confederate church a few miles from where I live which puts on re-enactments every year with about (40) participating and no corporate sponsorship. It is a very high quality event which attracts a thousand or more.

The problem I see with corporate sponsorship is the corporate culture which will end up corrupting the events.

[aomagrat]

Hmmmm...

How long before these corporate sponsors bow to the NAACP and demand the Confederate flag be removed from the re-enactments.

[billbears]

I'll pass on this idea. These are companies that also fall into the targeted company size of shakedowns by the likes of Jesse Jackson. They start getting involved, I imagine you would see an immediate change in the presentation on the battlefields

[Capriole]

I prefer the tiny by-invitation-only hardcore events

Yes. And I can't see these events costing that much. There is a Confederate church a few miles from where I live which puts on re-enactments every year with about (40) participating and no corporate sponsorship. It is a very high quality event which attracts a thousand or more.

You would be amazed at the costs. Think, first, of the insurance, which in today's litigious society has become staggering, especially when there are horses involved. Some sincere people have dropped out of organizing good events when they found that the up-front costs for insurance alone for tiny events would run $7000 whether or not the weather turned out good enough to bring in participants whose fees would cover that cost.

In addition, organizers have to bring in adequate hay for the horses, straw for human bedding, and tanker trucks full of water for everybody. They have to arrange for full-time rescue-unit coverage of the event, which is costly. (One of the biggest expenses at Manassas last year was for Medevac helicopters to get out people who were in danger of dying of heatstroke in the 103-degree temperatures.) At many events the organizers keep a large-animal vet on call because the horses get in trouble, too. Somebody has to check the Coggins on all the horses when they arrive. Somebody has to pay for the electronics--the walkie-talkies that keep widely-dispersed event staff in touch. There is trash removal, ice delivery in hot weather, pre-event site work. Even at this year's Recon II, which was supposed to be a highly authentic, restricted, no-spectators by-us-for-us event with zero modern intrusions, safety considerations compelled organizers to use walkie-talkies as cell phones often don't work well in the Shenandoah Valley.

So you see, the costs really can mount.

[sheltonmac]

"How long before these corporate sponsors bow to the NAACP and demand the Confederate flag be removed from the re-enactments."

My thoughts exactly!