Political Quotes

“I wish to recognize a dedicated public servant and proud student of West Virginian and American history, Dennis E. Frye, on the occasion of his retirement from the National Park Service. Innumerable visitors to Harpers Ferry National Historical Park benefited from his wealth of knowledge and notorious performances that brought history to life. As Dennis tells it, at a young age, he wanted to be either a historian or an astronaut. Once he found out that becoming an astronaut entails being very good at math, he decided history was the way to go. He studied at what was then Shepherd College in Shepherdstown, WV, while volunteering at Harpers Ferry National Historical Park, becoming a park ranger in 1977. Eschewing the traditional route of advancement in the National Park Service through moving from park to park, Dennis stayed put and advanced within the park, and set about the task of changing perceptions of Harpers Ferry in the Civil War history community. As staff historian and later chief historian at the park and through his work in various historical societies concerned with the Civil War, Dennis emphasized the importance of Harpers Ferry to the history of the Civil War. Thanks, in large part, to his efforts, the Battle of Harpers Ferry and the importance of the town in the history of America are better recognized by the historical community, of which he is a vocal member.…”