Superintendent Scott J. Bentley announced today that River Raisin National Battlefield Park will be celebrating the start of National Park Week with the help of United States Congressmen John D. Dingell and Tim Walberg on Monday, April 22, 2013, at 10 a.m.!

The Congressmen will be joined by representatives of the National Park Foundation, DTE Energy, the Community Foundation of Monroe County, the Monroe County Bicentennial Committee, and Michigan Gas Utility for several special announcements! Following the special announcements, 10 educators from Monroe and Wayne County along with 400 school students will be recognized and the United States Postal Service will unveil a limited edition collectors U.S. Postal Service Postmark and Remembrance Envelope (called a cachet) commemorating the bicentennial of the Battles of the River Raisin. The collectors Postmark will be available at the Battlefield following the 10 a.m. program and until 1 p.m. that day.

The public is encouraged to attend the unveiling and to bring their mail to the Battlefield to be postmarked for this single day issue Postmark. Only 400 of the collectors Cachet’s will be available for purchase at the Battlefield or Monroe Post Office. The collector’s piece sells for $5.00 and will never again be available. Also attending the event will be artists Tim Kurtz and Darlene Belair who donated the artwork for the commemorative pieces.

Everyone is encouraged to come out to Remember the sacrifices of America’s Armed forces, to support area educators and students and to take part in this special day in history as Southern Michigan and Northern Ohio celebrate National Park week at their newest National Battlefield Park!