The first weekend in June has been marked on the calendars of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History Family for quite a few years as we anxiously await our opportunity to do our part in preserving and maintaining the historic fields and structures of the Gettysburg National Military Park, Eisenhower Historic site, and Soldiers National Cemetery…

And just as it is with our living history events and activities, there are some years at Volunteer Work Day that our duties are just “extra meaningful”…our living history encampments are some of our favorite events, but serving as Honor Guard to stand watch over the graves of the fallen at the Soldiers National Cemetery for the Remembrance Day Illumination–that’s humbling…and painting fences or clearing brush are necessary duties, and it all counts, but painting in the engraved names on the markers of “those who gave the last full measure of devotion”–honorable…

This year was an exceptionally memorable one, as we had two of our volunteers get the opportunity to put black paint in the engravings of their ancestors who died serving at Gettysburg…Chloe Armstrong has spoken on what it means to be descendant of a Civil War soldier in previous years during our “Wheatfield Tribute” for the Anniversary of the Battle at the 62nd PA monument in that famous field…so to take a paint brush and letter-by-letter fill in the engraved name of JOHN A. WALKER, COMPANY D, 62ND REGIMENT was a very special moment for her…

And for Brionna Parks, serving with us for her first time at Volunteer Work Day, the honor came just one day after seeing the name of SERGT. JAMES PARKS on the bronze plate for the 139th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry on the Pennsylvania Memorial, including the gold star beside his name…so getting to paint his name in on his marker in the cemetery was something she will never forget…

The meaning wasn’t lost on the rest of us as we crawled along between the rows, one name, one hero of Gettysburg at a time…

We had fourteen volunteers with us this year, and each one had a special time of serving and remembering why we volunteer–and why Volunteer Work Day is a marked on our calendars for June 5, 2027…the opening photo was taken during our lunch break which was supplied by Kennie’s Market this year…our friend Bethany Yingling from the Gettysburg Foundation addressed the over two hundred volunteers, ranging from 9 years old to I believe 84!…

After lunch, a few of our 62nd volunteers offered to help out with a job on Big Round Top revitalizing one of the walking paths, while the rest of us returned to the cemetery to put a clear sealant over the names that we painted during the morning session…

To wrap up the day and in keeping with our tradition, the 62nd family of volunteers gathered at our log cabin at Drummer Boy Camping Resort for our “Post work day cookout”…a brief thunderstorm moved the grilling duties onto the covered porch, but the rains moved on, and we enjoyed several hours of food, friends and fellowship…no wonder it’s one of our favorite events!

If you would like more information about Volunteer Work Day, the Gettysburg Foundation, NPS Gettysburg, or Drummer Boy Resort, please visit the following links:

GETTYSBURG FOUNDATION: http://www.gettysburgfoundation.org Search events for information about Volunteer Work Day…

NATIONAL PARK SERVICE GETTYSBURG: https://nps.gov/gett

DRUMMER BOY CAMPING RESORT: https://rvonthego.com