The 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry Living History Family was pleased to welcome many guests to the Armstrong County Historical Society’s Christmas Open House on November 30, 2025. It was a wonderful day of sharing stories of Armstrong County history, in particular the stories of Civil War soldiers from the county. The ACHS Museum at 300 N. McKean St. Kittanning, PA houses a fantastic collection of local Civil War artifacts, many with ties to the 62nd PVI.
The Society also has on its grounds a relocated and restored historic log cabin that once belonged to the Rupp family, which our 62nd PVI Living History Family member Joe Rupp played in as a child! Joe welcomed many visitors to the log cabin as well and enjoyed sharing its history and connection to his family. We all had a wonderful day of fellowship together, and we hope you enjoy these pictures of some highlights from the day. Merry Christmas to all of our friends and followers, and we look forward to seeing you in the New Year, as we celebrate America’s 250th birthday!
Remembrance Day in Gettysburg is always a solemn and moving experience for the 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry Living History Family. This year marks 162 years since President Lincoln gave the Gettysburg Address to dedicate the Soldiers National Cemetery, where over 3,000 Union soldiers killed at the battle of Gettysburg were buried, including several from the 62nd PA. For many years the 62nd PVI LHF has travelled to Gettysburg for Remembrance Day, and this year we continued this duty of honoring and remembering ‘the boys’ of the 62nd PVI.
November 15th, 2025 began with our traditional Wheatfield Ceremony, where we remembered the sacrifice and bravery of the 62nd PA at the battle of Gettysburg. Our soldiers marched in and the ladies followed to the 62nd PA Monument in the Wheatfield. Then our Co-Vice President Matt Hankinson shared stories of the 62nd PA’s struggle on the afternoon of July 2, 1863, including the sad story of Color Sergeant Issac Osborn, who gave his life for his country in the Wheatfield while defending the colors of the 62nd PA. Shortly before the battle of Gettysburg Sergeant Osborn wrote a letter home to his young sons. Private Gavin Zimmerman read the following words from that fateful letter written by Sergeant Osborn, “…I have been in many dangers since I left you, but I put my whole trust in God and he has spared my life while a great many brave men was killed by my side, and I was spared. But there are other great battles to be fought…And if your father falls it will be at the head of his brave company and die for the Union and the peace of our country. My dear children I will now close by asking you to always be true to your country as your father has and ever will be.”
To conclude the ceremony, descendants of Private Henry Bargerstock of Co. D of the 62nd PVI, laid the wheat sheaf at the base of the monument, and we closed the Wheatfield ceremony in prayer, remembering the soldiers of the 62nd PA.
The Remembrance Day Parade followed our ceremony, and we marched as a family through Gettysburg, with the men carrying the colors of the 62nd PVI, a solemn reminder of the desperate fight to preserve those same colors in the Wheatfield on the afternoon of July 2, 1863.
After the parade and a brief rest to enjoy a meal together, the 62nd PVI LHF concluded the day with the Illumination Ceremony in the Soldiers National Cemetery, where the 62nd PVI LHF stood as Honor Guard alongside our friends from the 66th OVI for an hour, silently and reverently watching over the graves of the soldiers buried in the cemetery. Each grave was illuminated by a candle as a heartfelt reminder of the cost of the Union victory at Gettysburg.
Photos courtesy of Van Cornish, Matt Hankinson, Danielle Troup and Matt Zimmerman. To view a video of the 62nd PVI LHF Wheatfield Ceremony , Remembrance Day Parade, and the Illumination in Soldiers National Cemetery, please visit the following link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xu9-XLxjz2w to the YouTube channel Gettysburg Guy, maintained by one of our young members, Gavin Zimmerman.
CoD62ndPVI 