Assembly approves Republican bill strengthening Washington Association of NJ

TRENTON – A measure to increase the size of the Washington Association of New Jersey’s board of trustees was passed by the Assembly this week.
Sponsored by Assemblymen Michael Patrick Carroll and Anthony M. Bucco, the bill (A4370) allows the board to expand to a maximum of 18 members.
The association was founded to acquire and preserve George Washington’s military headquarters at the Jacob Ford Mansion in Morristown. It is a not-for-profit advisory and fundraising body for the Morristown National Historical Park, the country’s first national historical park.
“The vision and effectiveness of the organization rests in the hands of talented and committed members, but opportunities to join the board are few and far between,” said Carroll (R-Morris). “New people and voices will help continue preserving George Washington’s legacy and sharing the story of the Revolutionary War.”
Chartered in 1874, the Washington Association is one of the oldest historic preservation organizations in the country.
“A more expansive board opens more opportunities for younger volunteers to get involved, learn and grow into the next generation of the association’s leadership,” said Bucco (R-Morris). “As the association completes its children’s museum at Washington’s Headquarters in Morristown, new members can play a vital role in the development of education programs for the state’s urban schools.”
In addition to the Ford mansion, the park includes other historical sites: the Jockey Hollow encampment, site of the Continental Army’s winter encampment between 1779 and 1780; Fort Nonsense, an encampment overlooking Manhattan built in 1777; the New Jersey Brigade area, where American troops camped in December 1779; and the scenic Cross Estate gardens. The WANJ partners with the National Park Service as co-stewards of these sites.
Assemblywoman Nancy Munoz also sponsors the bill.