George Washington gets $400,000 from Lockheed Martin to keep crossing the Delaware River
By APFriday, December 25, 2009
Company gives $400K for Washington’s NJ river trek
WASHINGTON CROSSING, N.J. — After months of financial uncertainty, a Pennsylvania company has donated $400,000 to ensure that George Washington continues crossing the Delaware River into New Jersey each Christmas.
Thousands of people turn out every year to watch the re-enactment of Washington’s 1776 crossing of the river in a surprise attack on British forces.
But this year’s re-enactment was imperiled by government budget cuts that have closed a visitor center on the Pennsylvania side.
Besides the money to pay for Friday’s crossing, technology manufacturer Lockheed Martin Space Systems Co. pledged a five-year commitment of volunteer support from 13,000 employees for park maintenance and operations.
Other fundraising campaigns included the auction of a prime seat for the re-enactment.
Newtown, Pa., home builder Thomas Fischer won the auction and paid $3,500 for the right to don period garb and take a seat in the lead boat.
