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 The
last week of June and the first week of July is a special time in Gettysburg,
called Civil War Heritage Days—commemorating the anniversary of the battle
(July 1-3). There are some major reenactments of portions of the battle,
with thousands of reenactors taking part, and thousands of spectators.
There are also lots of special events scheduled during this time like
lectures, book signings, and a big Civil War
Ron Maxwell, overwhelmed at meeting my BMC!
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collectors show. A couple years ago, my BMC
and BFC even got to meet Ron Maxwell, who directed the movie, Gettysburg.
They’ve also met several famous authors and historians. They have quite
an autographed collection of books on Gettysburg. |
 The
Saturday closest to November 19 is called Remembrance Day. A  parade
of reenactors marches from the center of town, down Baltimore Street to
the National Cemetery, following the same route  that
President Lincoln, the townspeople, and various dignitaries took from
town to the Cemetery in l863. There is a special wreath laying ceremony
at the Soldiers’ National Monument. |
November 19 is the anniversary of Lincoln’s
Gettysburg Address, and a special ceremony takes place in the 
Dedication of The National Cemetery,
November 19, 1863.
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National Cemetery with guest speakers (novelist
and historian, Shelby Foote, was there the year before my BMC and BFC
started going to Gettysburg). The last
time my BMC and BFC went for this special occasion, they heard Gabor S.
Boritt, a famous Lincoln scholar and professor at Gettysburg College,
give the keynote speech. Jay Ungar and Molly Mason
performed Ashokan Farewell, the song written by Mr. Ungar and used
as the theme of Ken
President Lincoln, seated in center,
waiting to give his Address.
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Burns’ The Civil War. At the end
of the ceremony, the last speaker is
a Gettysburg resident, James Getty, who very strongly resembles Abraham
Lincoln, and of course he recites President Lincoln’s address. My
BMC and BFC say that if you close your eyes, you go back to November 19,
 1863!
They also told me that as Mr. Getty started reciting the Gettysburg Address,
the sun remarkably made it’s appearance in what had been an overcast
day! (Goose bump time!)
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