Forum Host- Joined
- Jan 8, 2012
Hundreds gathered yesterday in the bitter cold (it was 16 degrees F with wind chill) for Dedication Day to commemorate the 151st anniversary of the dedication of Soldiers' National Cemetery and Lincoln's Gettysburg Address. There are 27 photos of the event online--rather than post them all here, you can see them at the link below:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...1073741886.166888166710790&type=1&pnref=story
(This is a separate event from, and often confused with, Remembrance Day which takes place around the same time. Dedication Day is always held on the 19th of November. It is sponsored by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, Gettysburg National Military Park, the Gettysburg Foundation and Gettysburg College.)
The program included a formal ceremony with guest speakers from the rostrum near where Lincoln delivered his address followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Soldier's National Monument.
This year's key note speaker was Kent Masterson Brown, author of numerous works on the Civil War and notably the biography of Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing, the 22 year-old Union officer killed in action on July 3, 1863, who received the posthumous award of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
This year 50 members of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier also participated in the program.
A reenactor bugler was on hand to play Taps (twice), playing it perfectly each time despite the cold, and the Gettysburg High School band was also there in Civil War-era uniforms playing period tunes. James Getty portrayed Lincoln and recited the Gettysburg Address.
(I'm in the Color Guard wearing a scarf--we are the only reenactors that I'm aware of that are allowed to carry arms in the Soldier's National Cemetery.)
About 500 were in attendance yesterday, compared to more than 3,000 last year for the 150th anniversary. Certainly the weather had a lot to do with it.
Previous Dedication Day events have included keynote speakers such as Sandra Day O' Connor, Richard Dryfus, Ken Burns, Sam Donalson, Antonin Scalia, and James M. McPherson.
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/...1073741886.166888166710790&type=1&pnref=story
(This is a separate event from, and often confused with, Remembrance Day which takes place around the same time. Dedication Day is always held on the 19th of November. It is sponsored by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, Gettysburg National Military Park, the Gettysburg Foundation and Gettysburg College.)
The program included a formal ceremony with guest speakers from the rostrum near where Lincoln delivered his address followed by a wreath laying ceremony at the Soldier's National Monument.
This year's key note speaker was Kent Masterson Brown, author of numerous works on the Civil War and notably the biography of Lieutenant Alonzo Cushing, the 22 year-old Union officer killed in action on July 3, 1863, who received the posthumous award of the Congressional Medal of Honor.
This year 50 members of the USS Abraham Lincoln aircraft carrier also participated in the program.
A reenactor bugler was on hand to play Taps (twice), playing it perfectly each time despite the cold, and the Gettysburg High School band was also there in Civil War-era uniforms playing period tunes. James Getty portrayed Lincoln and recited the Gettysburg Address.
(I'm in the Color Guard wearing a scarf--we are the only reenactors that I'm aware of that are allowed to carry arms in the Soldier's National Cemetery.)
About 500 were in attendance yesterday, compared to more than 3,000 last year for the 150th anniversary. Certainly the weather had a lot to do with it.
Previous Dedication Day events have included keynote speakers such as Sandra Day O' Connor, Richard Dryfus, Ken Burns, Sam Donalson, Antonin Scalia, and James M. McPherson.
Last edited:
Bringing the