For Immediate Release

May 10, 2009

Celebrate the Valley, Inc.

Deerfield Valley, VT

Contact information: James P. Angus (802) 380-8297

Re: The $ Grand $ Race 3

Celebrate the Valley, Inc. is pleased to announce that the Living History Association’s

Headquarters’ Unit, the 2^nd Battery Vermont Light Artillery, will be the charity that will receive a portion of the proceeds from this years’ Grand Race on Saturday May 23^rd.

The 2^nd Battery was founded in central Vermont in the early 1960’s and in 1976 leadership was moved to southern Vermont and was placed in the hands of James A. Dassatti. In March of 1977, it was officially incorporated as a Vermont nonprofit organization. The 2^nd Battery now has a two fold mission for which funds are needed. The first is the purchase of a full scale Civil War reproduction cannon. The cannon will allow the group to continue its educational mission to teach the history of the American Civil War through displays and firing demonstrations, as well as reenactments. The second phase of the mission is to raise enough money to house an original Civil War Napoleon cannon, which was cast in 1863. That cannon has been cared for by the Living History Association since 1965, but is owned by the State of Vermont. The state no longer wants the cannon to be fired and has no plan or funding for maintaining the cannon. The state offered the 2^nd Battery the opportunity to continue the responsibility of caring for the cannon but not allowing it to be used freely. Regardless, the organization is dedicated to preserving the cannon and displaying it in West Dover.

Competing for the Grand Prize of $1300 (Grand + $300), teammates will travel by foot and by car in this fierce and exciting road rally. The race will take teams throughout the Town of Dover and areas north, south, east and west in Southern Vermont competing in fun, thrilling but mentally and physically challenging events along the way. The race will be limited to 50 teams at a cost of $100.00 per team. Each team must consist of 4 people.

This years race will start with cannon fire from the 2^nd Battery Vermont Light Artillery’s new Civil War Cannon and will end at the finish line BBQ open to the public, with games for the kids and a Civil War encampment by the 2^nd Battery.

For more information or to sign up, visit the races web page www.thegrandrace.com

or feel free to call James P. Angus @ 802-380-8297.