New Gettysburg Reenactment CANCELLED

[Rusk County Avengers]

Until I or anyone else has more confirmation I'm calling this a RUMOR! Though what I've seen looks to be very solid, but who knows that may change.

A reenactment unit I've fallen in with several times, (not my own unit, just good friends) was planning on making the trip to Gettysburg this year after being asked to help out, and I myself had thought of attempting it, and they announced on its FB page that Gettysburg 2020 has been canceled due to a political rally by Edited. Glen Beck. I've checked into it and according to the Gettysburg Historical Association's FB page its true. They pulled the plug for the safety of the spectators and reenactors because Glen Beck's little event (something about the Gettysburg Address) is expected to draw out protestors.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Personally, I'm disgusted! It wasn't a sure thing or not whether or not I'd go, but folks up yonder put their blood, sweat, and tears into saving the event after the downfall of the old and a political radio show host who is all about history and freedom has sunk it at a bad time for some political nonsense! Sorry I'm a bit angry at the very thought of it.

Edited.

 

[captaindrew]

Until I or anyone else has more confirmation I'm calling this a RUMOR! Though what I've seen looks to be very solid, but who knows that may change.

A reenactment unit I've fallen in with several times, (not my own unit, just good friends) was planning on making the trip to Gettysburg this year after being asked to help out, and I myself had thought of attempting it, and they announced on its FB page that Gettysburg 2020 has been canceled due to a political rally by Edited. Glen Beck. I've checked into it and according to the Gettysburg Historical Association's FB page its true. They pulled the plug for the safety of the spectators and reenactors because Glen Beck's little event (something about the Gettysburg Address) is expected to draw out protestors.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Personally, I'm disgusted! It wasn't a sure thing or not whether or not I'd go, but folks up yonder put their blood, sweat, and tears into saving the event after the downfall of the old and a political radio show host who is all about history and freedom has sunk it at a bad time for some political nonsense! Sorry I'm a bit angry at the very thought of it.

There were two separate events being planned. I haven't checked in on the other one lately and off the top of my head I don't remember their site name. I'll look later when I have a minute.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

There were two separate events being planned. I haven't checked in on the other one lately and off the top of my head I don't remember their site name. I'll look later when I have a minute.

I know there was a Campaigner event going on up there but I don't know if it was the same weekend. I'd bet money this shutdown was the big event.

 

[captaindrew]

I know there was a Campaigner event going on up there but I don't know if it was the same weekend. I'd bet money this shutdown was the big event.

Well both events were under new leadership, the GAC longer exists. Maybe a year off isn't a bad thing, the 156th wasn't very good. A year off certainly wasn't a bad thing for Cedar Creek, their past event event was really good I thought. Time will tell, hopefully it comes back stronger going forward.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

That was my thoughts, but if this cancellation is costing them the big bucks...

 

[Claude Bauer]

Until I or anyone else has more confirmation I'm calling this a RUMOR! Though what I've seen looks to be very solid, but who knows that may change.

A reenactment unit I've fallen in with several times, (not my own unit, just good friends) was planning on making the trip to Gettysburg this year after being asked to help out, and I myself had thought of attempting it, and they announced on its FB page that Gettysburg 2020 has been canceled due to a political rally by Edited. Glen Beck. I've checked into it and according to the Gettysburg Historical Association's FB page its true. They pulled the plug for the safety of the spectators and reenactors because Glen Beck's little event (something about the Gettysburg Address) is expected to draw out protestors.

Facebook

www.facebook.com

Personally, I'm disgusted! It wasn't a sure thing or not whether or not I'd go, but folks up yonder put their blood, sweat, and tears into saving the event after the downfall of the old and a political radio show host who is all about history and freedom has sunk it at a bad time for some political nonsense! Sorry I'm a bit angry at the very thought of it.

Edited.

Seems like an odd reason to cancel a Civil War reenactment--certainly Gettysburg should be able to accommodate two events simultaneously. According to Destination Gettysburg, they've been working on attracting Beck's event for a couple of months now:

http://www.standard-journal.com/article_af4a17f3-4c79-53f6-bd9b-a2bd1b245879.html

Edited

Beck said he mainly hopes to attract families to this event, which he said "will be 100% apolitical."
"There will be no politics allowed. I am a control freak and very adamant about that," he said.

Certainly there are those who will make it political, just like everything else, but what does any of this have to do with holding a Civil War reenactment? Also, I don't see anything about Beck's "little event" as you call it being about the Gettysburg Address, as you assert.

I rarely comment on political or controversial topics, since most of social media is little more than a platform for spewing partisan bile, but claiming that the timing of Beck's event spoiled the opportunity to hold a Civil War reenactment appears to be unsubstantiated. Perhaps the organizers of the reenactment realized they were in over their heads, it was going to cost them a lot of money, and were looking for a convenient excuse that would allow them to back out.

Regardless, there will be other events commemorating the Battle of Gettysburg--I don't think we even need a big reenactment. I'd prefer to see more living history events on the battlefield and in town. I don't follow Glen Beck or attend his events, but if others want to, that's their business. Edited.

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Glenn Beck plans massive gathering in Gettysburg

GETTYSBURG — National radio host Glenn Beck hopes to bring 30,000 people to Gettysburg next summer with a goal of restoring citizens’ covenant with God.

www.standard-journal.com

 

[Eleanor Rose]

Gettysburg Anniversary Committee doesn't plan on hosting civil war reenactment in 2020

Gettysburg Anniversary Committee announces they are not planning on organizing the 157th anniversary reenactment.

www.eveningsun.com

*Older article.

 

[bankerpapaw]

What a shame.

 

[Nathanb1]

Not a fan.

 

[Claude Bauer]

Gettysburg Anniversary Committee doesn't plan on hosting civil war reenactment in 2020

Gettysburg Anniversary Committee announces they are not planning on organizing the 157th anniversary reenactment.

www.eveningsun.com

*Older article.

To clarify, the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee (GAC) in the article cited above is not the organizing group behind this most recent cancellation. The GAC is the outfit that held the event for many years.

There is an unrelated group named The 157th Battle of Gettysburg that had planned to hold the event next year (2020). They now say they are postponing it until 2021 because of the Glen Beck event, and have changed the name of their committee to The 158th Battle of Gettysburg.

This is their Facebook page:

The 158th Battle of Gettysburg Re-enactment

Welcome to the home of the 157th Battle of Gettysburg Re-enacment page! This is where you will find all of the information related to our quest to continue this honored tradition! Stay connected and...

www.facebook.com

There is a video posted there where their principal organizer Dustin Heisey announces the cancellation, talks about the Glen Beck factor, their plans for the future, etc.

Video

www.facebook.com

 

[EJ Zander]

If they are planning fireworks on Saturday the 4th it will go head to head against the fireworks at G-burg College.

 

[Josh The Lighthouse Guy]

I heard about this today. Definitely cancelled:

Gettysburg Reenactment canceled because of Glenn Beck’s visit to Gettysburg, but promised for 2021

Gettysburg Reenactment organizer Dustin Heisey wants everyone to know he isn’t interested in the politics surrounding Glenn Beck’s visit to Gettysbu...

fox43.com

Seems like an odd reason to cancel a Civil War reenactment--certainly Gettysburg should be able to accommodate two events simultaneously.

Gettysburg's reenactment shouldn't have to share space with another major event, certainly not of the nature of the event in question.

I think it's the right call to cancel the event this year. You're liable to get collateral damage (figurative or literal) from a controversial individual holding a controversial event in the same town at the same time. Furthermore, Beck's event is trying to piggyback on the historical Gettysburg event, using history to serve it's own modern agenda. It's going to overshadow the reenactment, which should be an opportunity to present history for education's sake. Especially in the current political climate.

According to Destination Gettysburg, they've been working on attracting Beck's event for a couple of months now

We know who to blame then.

Edited

 

[archieclement]

I heard about this today. Definitely cancelled:

Gettysburg Reenactment canceled because of Glenn Beck’s visit to Gettysburg, but promised for 2021

Gettysburg Reenactment organizer Dustin Heisey wants everyone to know he isn’t interested in the politics surrounding Glenn Beck’s visit to Gettysbu...

fox43.com

Gettysburg's reenactment shouldn't have to share space with another major event, certainly not of the nature of the event in question.

I think it's the right call to cancel the event this year. You're liable to get collateral damage (figurative or literal) from a controversial individual holding a controversial event in the same town at the same time. Furthermore, Beck's event is trying to piggyback on the historical Gettysburg event, using history to serve it's own modern agenda. It's going to overshadow the reenactment, which should be an opportunity to present history for education's sake. Especially in the current political climate.



We know who to blame then.



Religion is political. Especially when you're arguing the country has a "covenant with God." (When did we sign that one? Did it come with its own ark?)

FWIW besides his long and controversial career as a political "commentator" Beck is an adult convert to Mormonism. Draw your own conclusions.

Not sure why your opposed to a community deciding current events may be more important to them then 150 yr old ones...............it would seem to be well within their prerogative.

One of my pet peeves is when people attach modern politics to historical events, but this seems the opposite, the tourism board are keeping the two separate, and simply giving precedent to today in what they promoted, which doesn't seem all that surprising to me as it's an election year.

 

[EJ Zander]

So the reenactment voluntarily cancels on its own accord and says it because of a competing event. The competing event is to blame? I dont see it that way. Doesnt matter what the competing event is. Maybe the reenactment organizers realized they would not be fully prepared in time for their event.
No other events should take place in the area on the same dates of the reenactment? Dont see that either.

 

[7thWisconsin]

Actually, I don't buy the "competing event" rationale at all. The reenactment, at either site, is held outside town, and parking for participants and spectators has never been an issue. Gettysburg is set up to handle hundreds of thousands of tourists at the same time already. Unless the local constabulary and the State Police indicated that they didn't feel they would be able to provide adequate support to both events, I don't really see an infrastructure issue. Maybe the organizers simply bit off more than they could handle, or wanted to go to the rally...
The Gettysburg reenactment would really benefit from some time off and redirection of vision. The last one I attended was the 150th, which was an awesome event but still had significant authenticity flaws. You can turn a blind eye when the event is enormous, as it was that year, but in off-years I have seen things there that simply should not have been allowed. I distinctly remember seeing a Confederate bagpipe player tootling merrily along as his unit assaulted the Angle on the 3rd day. Now this isn't an authenticity issue on the same level as someone covering their combat boots with leggings, or having dead animal parts sewn to their headgear. This affected not only the immediate unit, and the unit facing them, but anyone withing earshot, which for the bagpipe is, what, roughly 100,000 acres? At some point, the words "Dude. No." should have come out of a sergeant, unit commander, brigade commander, specatator - anyone. Yet it didn't and there he was. You repeat this kind of failure to adhere to anything like essential reenacting authenticity standards often enough and you end up with good reenactors taking a pass on the event, which is what I did.

 

[Rusk County Avengers]

Actually, I don't buy the "competing event" rationale at all. The reenactment, at either site, is held outside town, and parking for participants and spectators has never been an issue. Gettysburg is set up to handle hundreds of thousands of tourists at the same time already. Unless the local constabulary and the State Police indicated that they didn't feel they would be able to provide adequate support to both events, I don't really see an infrastructure issue. Maybe the organizers simply bit off more than they could handle, or wanted to go to the rally...
The Gettysburg reenactment would really benefit from some time off and redirection of vision. The last one I attended was the 150th, which was an awesome event but still had significant authenticity flaws. You can turn a blind eye when the event is enormous, as it was that year, but in off-years I have seen things there that simply should not have been allowed. I distinctly remember seeing a Confederate bagpipe player tootling merrily along as his unit assaulted the Angle on the 3rd day. Now this isn't an authenticity issue on the same level as someone covering their combat boots with leggings, or having dead animal parts sewn to their headgear. This affected not only the immediate unit, and the unit facing them, but anyone withing earshot, which for the bagpipe is, what, roughly 100,000 acres? At some point, the words "Dude. No." should have come out of a sergeant, unit commander, brigade commander, specatator - anyone. Yet it didn't and there he was. You repeat this kind of failure to adhere to anything like essential reenacting authenticity standards often enough and you end up with good reenactors taking a pass on the event, which is what I did.

I'd say you got good points. As far as the dead animal brigades my solution would be ban the dismounted cav. I'd bet that's take care of 75 percent of them. Also the bagpipe "Celtic Confederate" yahoos, I love bagpipes by my God they need to disappear. Too many have bought into that modern myth and like bagpipes without thinking of authenticity. Don't have a lot of them here in the Ark-La-Tex, we have to worry about folks playing guitars in cowboy hats and boots, plus the dead animal gangs.

 

[Yosemite]

This really has nothing to do with Glenn Beck. I have been to a Glenn Beck "event", and hardly anyone shows up.
They are using this as an "excuse", and I am not buying it! Total cop-out!

 

[Package4]

I didn't know he was having a religious event, just went with what I could find. But with that "commentator" religious might as well be political. I know hearing him in-between other radio shows at work used to be painful to me because he mixed them.

Not to mention that the Beck event will draw many more individuals than the re-enactment, I was in Gburg this weekend and the townspeople think that they will do much better with the Beck event. The last Gburg event I attended, a couple of years ago (155th), had very low attendance. The Historical Society is a little biased, but businesses are excited about 30,000, plus the usual tourists, not sure how it will cost the town anything, just the opposite. Politics aside, it was my understanding that the town reached out to Beck to fill the void left by the cancelling of the re-enactment, I could be wrong, this is just what I heard having adult libations at O'Rourke's.

I'll be in Pitzer's Woods as usual that weekend performing demonstrations for the Park Service; we only do the farbfest reenactment every 5 years.

 

[WJC]

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