Hartford receives NPS award for volunteer service

Fort Scott National Historic Site Superintendent Betty Boyko, left, presents Reed Hartford, right, with the George and Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Individual Volunteer of the National Park Service Midwest Region. (Submitted photo)

Reed Hartford, volunteer at Fort Scott National Historic Site, was named recipient of the annual George and Helen Hartzog Award for Outstanding Individual Volunteer of the National Park Service Midwest Region. The Hartzog Awards are named for former National Park Service Director George B. Hartzog, Jr. who established the Volunteer-in-Parks Program in 1970. Hartzog's wife, Helen, has continued his legacy through her generosity and participation in recognizing volunteers. Today, there are 200,000 volunteers servicewide who give their time and talents supporting the National Park Service.

Hartford began volunteering at the fort shortly after he moved to town in 2004. Since that time, he has volunteered over 1,900 hours. His work as a volunteer at Fort Scott National Historic Site has benefited the park and continues to increase the visiting public's understanding of the significance, heritage, and preservation of the site while promoting the National Park Service's mission. He accomplishes this through his constant research on the history of the park, town, and region, testing the findings, and incorporating the results into the interpretive talks or programs he presents.