By Katie Wolfe, Co-Vice President of the 62nd PVI LHF:

The 62nd PVI LHF continued our tradition of traveling to Gettysburg, PA to mark the anniversary of the battle of Gettysburg, 162 years ago. This is always a very special weekend to our living history family, as we remember ‘the boys’ of the 62nd PVI at our Wheatfield Tribute Ceremony at the 62nd PVI Monument. This year was a little more special for a number of reasons- 1. We were also invited to set up our living history encampment at the Children of Gettysburg 1863 Museum, a great hands-on museum for children that educates them about both the battle and the civilians of Gettysburg, and 2. A very special visit from a young man named Lochlan, who was visiting Gettysburg with his family as his Make A Wish visit after recovering from a long treatment for cancer. Here are the highlights of our anniversary weekend in Gettysburg…

A highlight of Friday after we set up our encampment was when most of us gathered as a group for a Campfire Talk in Pitzer Woods on West Confederate Avenue with Ranger Matt Atkinson. Ranger Matt took the time to talk to us, in particular to Gavin in his uniform- way to go Gavin!  Anna and I actually helped to run the picture slides on his computer for his presentation on Camp Letterman Hospital so that he could stand closer to the audience and be heard. (He had no microphone and it was a large crowd.) There was actually a 62nd PA story in the presentation! Ranger Matt highlighted the story of Private Jacob Shenkel of the 62nd PA who was a musician and stayed to help at the Camp Letterman hospital after the battle. Private Shenkel was in 2 historic photographs Matt shared, one at an operation and one where he was posing/standing in a coffin box! What a remarkable story, with our 62d PVI LHF family sitting in the audience!

Saturday was a beautiful day for our Wheatfield Tribute ceremony. Our friend David Lentz fell in with us, Sergeant Rob Skeel led us in, Chaplain Jeff Ryder led us in an opening prayer, and Private Matt Hankinson spoke on behalf of the Company. Many stories of the 62nd PA’s fight in the Wheatfield were shared, but one memorable one was the story of the 62nd PA Camp Betty Black flag that members of our Armstrong County Civil War Roundtable recently saw in Harrisburg. It is wonderful that this flag is still preserved in our state capitol! The Wolfe ladies then read Joshua Chamberlain’s In Great Deeds Something Abides speech, Private Brian Wolfe played Taps, the wheat sheaf was placed by Private Gavin Zimmerman and Chaplain Ryder gave a final prayer to end another memorable Wheatfield Tribute Ceremony. 

We then had a brief break before our encampment at the Children of Gettysburg 1863 museum. It was a busy day and we greeted many guests, and many children in uniform! Everyone worked together to keep the camp running and we enjoyed a meal of ham sandwiches and an apple pie cooked by the ladies over the campfire. It was great to see Corporal Tim Bowser’s family and little grandson, who appreciated the cup of ice he got from Miss Katie! Amazingly, a descendant of a 62nd PVI soldier from Company B also visited our encampment, and so our list of descendants continues to grow!

An Antebellum Marine Band concert of patriotic music started at 6:00 pm, with Private Brian Wolfe joining to play his trumpet. At this concert, the Make A Wish young man Lochlan Brown and his family were introduced and a proclamation read in his honor by the Mayor of Gettysburg. He then conducted the band for Yankee Doodle, wearing a red band jacket given to him by the band master, our friend Ken Serfass, aka Living Historian General Grant. 

The Lochlan and family Make A Wish visit was definitely a highlight, as they visited with us during the concert. Lochlan and his family were so friendly and very appreciative of the time we took to talk to them. Our President, Slim Bowser, has been in contact with Lochlan and his family and is going to do a separate and more in-depth post very soon specifically about his visit to our encampment. Needless to say, it was a very moving and heart-warming visit for all of us, and one we won’t soon forget!

On Sunday, Chaplain Jeff Ryder led a wonderful church service and it was attended by many guests, which was great. We sang songs that the soldiers sang in 1863, such as “Soldiers of Christ Arise” and “Rock of Ages”. Our Chaplain then preached a wonderful and fitting sermon about Adam and Eve and the worst Independence Day, and our need for a Savior. We then enjoyed brunch together and talked to more visitors and children. It was great to see Rob Skeel again with James and Patrick! They even learned how to play Graces with Kara and Anna Wolfe and James was getting pretty good! We also were visited by an intern from the Seminary Ridge Museum who took our picture with General Bearford- very cute!

Many children visited our encampment, which was great to see!

We showed guests how to play the sawmill toy and the bugle!

We broke down camp late Sunday afternoon after a great weekend together!

I also want to give a shout-out to all of our younger generation in the 62nd PVI LHF- we really do have such a great group of kids and teens! On this particular weekend Cayden, Gavin, Kara, Anna, James and Patrick did such a great job helping out, setting up, cooking, cleaning, talking with visitors, playing with kids who visited and making everyone feel welcome in our camp. We are very proud of our younger generation!

That’s it from me- thank you all for a wonderful weekend. We missed everyone who could not be with us and we hope to see you at our next event! God Bless,

Katie