Photo by Graham Cullen Ranger Cathy Beeler, an expert in black powder, artillery and other arms, began her career at Antietam National Battlefield and has been with Monocacy National Battlefield since its opening in 1991.

"I even got busted by my mom for sneaking one into a little pink purse and taking it to church when I was about 4 years old," Beeler said. "My father condoned it all until I was about 9 or 10, when he threw them all in the trash, insisting that I put away the boy toys and learn to be more of a lady."

Today, Beeler is chief of Monocacy National Battlefield's Resource Education and Visitor Services, a position that puts her in charge of some of the world's largest guns. She's also an expert gunpowder handler.

"I started firing cannons at Antietam Battlefield as part of a seasonal job," Beeler said. "It became part of my job to become certified in 19th-century small arms and artillery as well as the storage and handling of black powder because I supervise an interpretive program at a Civil War battlefield."

Later, Beeler's interest in the program led her to become certified in 18th-century weapons.

"The increased knowledge allowed me to be selected as regional inspector and as one of the National Park Service's historic weapons instructors," she said.

Black powder is still made and used by sportsmen and reenactors, although there are several varieties, Beeler said.

The National Park Service requires potassium-based black powder because that is what was originally used in historic weapons, she said.

A certified National Park Service historic weapons supervisor must train staff or be present when volunteers present historic weapons demonstrations on any National Park Service property, Beeler said.

To obtain certification, one must attend an 80-hour course, pass a written exam for the weapons for which one seeks to be certified and demonstrate competency in handling the manual of arms and safe loading and firing of those weapons.

A written exam for the safe storage and handling of black powder is also required. Certification must be renewed every four years in a particular era -- 18th-century small arms and artillery, 19th-century small arms and artillery or the beach apparatus drill.

In 2004, Beeler was awarded the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara by the United States Field Artillery Association. She received the award at the National Park Service training course, held that year at Camp Blanding in Florida.

"Camp Blanding happened to be the location where my father trained with the 29th division in WWII before being sent to Europe where he fought on Omaha Beach on D-Day," Beeler said.

During her National Park Service training at Camp Blanding, Beeler learned that the 29th division from Washington County had trained there.

"I felt as though I was somehow retracing my father's footsteps, which led me to learning more about his service," she said.