Articles by Steven Gilchrist

The Appalachian National Scenic Trail, also known as the Appalachian Trail, is a marked hiking trail in the eastern part of the United States.   The Appalachian Trail covers 2,175 miles from Springer Mountain in Georgia to Mount Katahdin in Maine. The trail passes through 14 states and it was completed in 1937.   Rising to an elevation of 6,643 feet Clingmans Dome is the highest point on the trail.   Clingmans Dome is located in Tennessee and North Carolina.   The lowest point of the trail is Bear Mountain State Park in New York.   This park reaches 124 feet.   The National Trails System Act of 1968 established the Pacific Crest Trail and the Appalachian Trail as the first national scenic trails in the United States.       The idea for the Appalachian Trail was first proposed by Benton MacKaye (1879 – 1975).   MacKaye, a graduate of Harvard University, wrote an article titled: “An Appalachian Trail: A Project in Regional Planning” in 1921.   MacKaye was a pioneering land

On July 26, 1948 President Harry S. Truman signed Executive Order 9981.   This legislation declared the elimination of racial discrimination in the United States Armed Forces and established a precedent for the equal treatment and opportunity of all uniformed services members.   A section of Executive Order 9981 states: “It is hereby declared to be the policy of the President that there shall be equality of treatment and opportunity for all persons in the armed services without regard to race, color, religion or national origin.   This policy shall be put into effect as rapidly as possible, having due regard to the time required to effectuate any necessary changes without impairing efficiency or morale.” Enforcement of the Executive Order did not take effect until the Eisenhower administration.   The last all black military units were disbanded in September 1954.