Once again the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History Family will be setting up a small encampment in support of the Armstrong County Historical Museum & Genealogical Society…last May, we shared the museum grounds for a two day living history event, with our friends from “Proctor’s Militia”, a fine group that demonstrate French & Indian era military and camp life, as well as some Revolutionary War period scenarios…this year we are sharing the museum log cabin and grounds for a one day combined event, in which our guests will have the opportunity to learn much about what the early war periods were like for the soldiers and citizens of Armstrong County…
And of course while visiting our encampment, the museum will also be open from 12 noon until 5 PM that day…there are some very exciting additions to the Civil War Room collection in the McKain House, guaranteed to leave an impression…the Historical Society also has many important new topics to share, including the purchase and pending renovation of the old Kittanning Train Station & Freight Station across Grant Avenue from the Library and Museum…
There are also a number of items in the Civil War Room of interest to descendants and families of the Sixty-Second PA Volunteer Infantry, specifically Company D, which mustered in from Armstrong County…you may also view the original painting “The Wheatfield: Whirlpool of Death”, which is always on display…the painting, by local artist and historian Larry A. Smail, depicts the Sixty-Second PVI in their action at Gettysburg on July 2nd, 1863, when they, as part of Colonel Jacob B. Sweitzer’s Second Brigade, First Division, of the Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, found themselves almost completely surrounded in George Rose’s Wheatfield…
So, please come join us, along with Proctor’s Militia, for a great afternoon of local history!
Below are some images from the event from last year…enjoy, and may God bless you…
The 62nd PVI Living History Family celebrated Christmas together during an open house at the Armstrong County Historical Museum & Genealogical Society in Kittanning, PA. We enjoyed each other’s company while always remembering our dear friend Joe McShane.
This event concluded a successful year for our group, and we look forward to 2023.
The 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry Living History Family had a memorable weekend at the Gettysburg Heritage Center Museum in October of 2022. We set up our encampment on the lawn of the Heritage Center Museum and spent a great weekend together drilling, cooking, fellowshipping and educating the public about the Civil War and the 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry’s story throughout the war.
Photographs provided by Chloe Armstrong and Katie Wolfe.
The 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry Living History Family travelled to Gettysburg in November of 2022 for the Remembrance Day ceremonies, always a very moving event marking the dedication of the Soldier’s National Cemetery and President Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address in November of 1863. We participated in the Remembrance Day Parade and Illumination at the Soldiers’ National Cemetery, and of course held a respectful ceremony and laying of the Wheat Sheaf at the 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry monument in The Wheatfield.
Katie Wolfe of the 62nd PVI LHF here- The 62nd PA Volunteer Infantry Living History Family has had a very busy summer! We marked the 159th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg by honoring the memory of the 62nd PA in the Wheatfield with a ceremony and the laying of the Wheat Sheaf, but not in our usual way. A severe thunderstorm blew in on the evening of July 2nd when we were scheduled to conduct our ceremony- the photograph below shows the brief moment some of our family were able to be in the Wheatfield before being asked to leave for safety’s sake. However, we made the trip back to the Wheatfield the next day, determined to remember the brave soldiers of the 62nd PA. In the words of our good Sergeant…”Sunday dawned a beautiful, clear morning…we all decided to gather in the Wheatfield at 1 PM, without the formality of our usual ceremony, but nonetheless we paid our reverent respects to the 62nd, and all who fought and died there…I opened with a prayer of thanks that we were unharmed, and of remembrance for those who served there…Tim & I placed the Wheat, and Brian played “Taps” beautifully…Matt closed with a personal story and letters from Edwin Little, Co. I, who lost his life there 159 years prior…as Matt finished his reading, a gentleman and his daughter, who heard the bugle echo through the field, quickly appeared to see what was going on…he said “my great, great grandfather fought here with the 62nd!”…and once again, the Lord directed our steps, and introduced another family into “our family”…Not what we planned…guided by Providence… It was great to see Gordy there on Saturday, as we all gathered with Cindy to honor Joe McShane…an emotional morning for us all…” In everything we do, we remember our dear friend, Joe McShane.
School of the Soldier
Our summer has also been busy with get-togethers and School of the Soldier for our newest members. We had a great night of food and friendship hosted by the Bowsers and then some drilling for ‘the boys’.
A Walk Through History in Apollo, PA
We were also fortunate to be invited to share in a living history event in Apollo, PA with several other units including the 40th PA Infantry Regiment. The location on the Roaring Run Trail was wonderful, and it was an altogether fantastic weekend with many good memories made!
Photos were taken by Katie Wolfe, Slim and Sue Bowser and Danielle Troup.
While our events and appearances have been limited or altered the past few years due to Covid restrictions and other factors, including the passing of our Cpl. Joe McShane in October, we have still managed to remain active in sharing, remembering and preserving the history of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry…
Following Joe’s passing, we made the solemn trip to Gettysburg for the Remembrance Day in November, where we held a very emotional “Wheatfield Tribute”, honoring not only the memory of the service and sacrifice of the Veterans of the 62nd, but that of Joe McShane as well…
We marched through the streets of Gettysburg in the annual parade, shared some much-needed fellowship together, and closed the day by serving as Honor Guard for the Illumination of Soldiers National Cemetery that evening, with Cindy McShane mustering up the courage to “stand in Joe’s place” as a guard in her Marie Tepe’ uniform…all of the stories of honor and valor that we have read about from the Civil War came flooding back as we stood together that evening…words fail me……………
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A week later, we reprised our role as hosts for the “Christmas Open House” at the Armstrong County Historical Museum in Kittanning, PA…this proved to be an emotional day as well, as we hung Joe’s kepi on the beautiful Fraser fir tree in remembrance–like so many of us, Joe loved Christmas!
The afternoon saw a good crowd of guests go through the McKain House, festively adorned for the Christmas holiday…the aroma of wassail and fresh-baked cookies reminded us of the warmth and comfort of friendship of our living history family…
So, as we look forward to 2022, here are the events scheduled for the coming months:
“ECHOES FROM THE PAST”: MAY 21 & 22
ARMSTRONG COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM & GENEALOGICAL SOCIETY
This two-day event will feature “Proctors Militia” on Saturday, May 21, presenting living history from the French & Indian period, a very active and notable time in Armstrong County, including the county seat town of Kit-Han-Ne, present day Kittanning…while the living history goes on outdoors, artist and author Larry Smail will also be giving a historical presentation in the museum dining room, highlighting his book “The Attack on Kit-Han-Ne”, and his painting to provide the visual aid to the story…
There will also be a Children’s Story Time with Katie Wolfe at 2 PM, where kids can learn history through readings and illustrations…
On Sunday, May 22, our 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History Family will take to the museum grounds with our demonstrations and discussions about the Civil War period, including stories and images of not only 62nd Veterans, but men who served in many other units, all of which are evident as you tour the Civil War Room in the museum…
There will be other guests sharing the afternoon with us, including “spinning lady” Jean Chestnut, who will join our ladies as they display materials, fabrics, and clothing from the period, including the process of spinning wool…
William “Bill” McMaster will be on hand sharing books and items related to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War [SUVCW]…
Both days include free admission, free parking, tours of the museum and access to the genealogical library located in the Carriage House next to the museum…
We hope you will join us for our first event in our 28th season of keeping history alive!
Many years ago, one of our long-time members and descendant Joe Rupp brought up the idea of participating in “Volunteer Work Day”…at the time, Joe and maybe one or two others started what has become a standing tradition with the 62nd PVI LHF…there were years that only a few could go, and there have been years that we have had 15 or more volunteers…the event is hosted by the GETTYSBURG FOUNDATION, in affiliation with the NATIONAL PARK SERVICE, GETTYSBURG…
As the name states, volunteers have the opportunity to work on the Gettysburg Battlefield, in a variety of job duties and work sites as selected by NPS…among the duties we have performed are “fence building”, “fence painting”, “headstone painting”, “headstone cleaning”, “historic structure painting”, “fence clearing” and “clearing brush”…we have participated in painting the McPherson Barn, the Codori Barn, the HQ building at the Eisenhower Farm, as well as painting many fences, including the hog fence and picket fences at the Sherfy Farm, the fences at the Trostle Farm and the fences at the Eisenhower Farm…we helped build several miles of fences, including the Virginia worm fences along the Emmitsburg Road…we have cleaned headstones in the Soldiers National Cemetery, and I believe our favorite and most honorable detail has been painting in the engraved names on the headstones of the Union Civil War graves…
For each of these duties, the Gettysburg Foundation not only provides the materials, water, and a Subway lunch, but for most of our events, a representative from the Foundation provides detailed accounts for the work site or structure related to the battle…part of what makes the headstone painting so memorable are the stories behind the names…while you are leaning over the markers, taking great care to put black paint in the engraving, Sue Boardman, or another Foundation member may stand behind you and read “John A. Walker, Private, Company D, 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry: killed 2 July and buried on the road from the Peach Orchard to Little Round Top [D-77 Pennsylvania Plot]”…you can imagine the emotional experience of hearing the name you are painting, and how he came to be interred in the cemetery…the information comes from “These Honored Dead–The Union Casualties at Gettysburg”, by John W. Busey among the resources used…
After several years of being postponed due to the Covid pandemic, 2022 marker the return of the Volunteer Work Day event…many volunteers from many, many places gathered to lend a hand in preserving the Gettysburg Battlefield and Eisenhower Farm Historic Site for years to come…
The 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History Family continued our tradition as a “volunteer” Company, with fourteen volunteers present for duty…we had nineteen originally signed up, but several family health emergencies prevented the others from being able to attend…
Our duty for this year was to “daylight” the Virginia Worm fences that run from the Emmitsburg Road, behind the Sherfy House and Barn, stretching along the property to the adjoining Spangler Farm…this meant cutting and removing the brush [poison ivy, honeysuckle vine, briars] using hand tools and hard work…we also repaired or reset any sections of fence that had been damaged or dislodged…with not a cloud in the sky, nor a tree for shade, we worked under the hot sun to make a visible difference in the appearance of that property, on the historic area of the July 2nd fighting…
At the conclusion of the work day, our volunteers gathered at our usual location, a log cabin at Drummer Boy Camping Resort, for our annual “Volunteers Cookout”…this is a great way to spend an evening of friends, food and fellowship, with our “62nd Family”…
For living historians, the death of one of our members hits seemingly twice as hard…we not only lose the man that we have known as a beloved and loyal friend, who has always been there for us in everyday life, anytime, anywhere, no matter what, but we lose Corporal McShane, a trusted and devoted soldier, who has always been there when the 62nd had an appearance or event…
Joe and Cindy McShane joined the ranks of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History family many years ago, and despite not having lineage in the regiment, they have been dedicated to the cause of preserving and promoting the history of the 62nd unwaveringly…
In early September, 2021, Joe and Cindy both became ill with Covid, as did Cindy’s father…Joe had a serious bout with pneumonia several years ago, and so this illness became rapidly life-threatening…soon after being hospitalized, he was place on oxygen, and he struggled for a week…on Friday, October 1, 2021, Joe answered his “final muster” call…
For those of us who study the Civil War, and dedicate much of our lives to learning, sharing and teaching that part of our nation’s history, we have read countless accounts of “a hole in the line”, or “plugging a gap” when a comrade was down…even recounting this over 150 years after the fact, we are moved to tears as we read these things…
But when it happens in the here and now, we realize that we have lost a brother, a comrade, and a friend, leaving not only a hole in the line, but in our hearts…a gaping hole that only time can fill, with treasured memories and stories too numerous to count…
So we mourn, as a family, and we ask for your prayers for Cindy, their children, and the 62nd PVI Living History Family…
“The 62nd boys”, as captured by our friend Rob Gibson, one of Cindy’s favorite images
On Friday, October 8, 2021, the members of the McShane family, the 62nd family, as well as members of the Confederation of Union Generals {COUG}, the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War {PA Department Commander John Gibson}, bid a Civil War “Farewell, for Now” to Joe at English Funeral Home, located in Oakmont, PA, where Joe and Cindy spent part of their lives…
If you would like to make a donation in Joe’s honor, the McShane’s ask that you send them to the Armstrong County Historical Museum & Genealogical Society, where Joe and Cindy served as volunteers…you can find the address at: http://www.achmgs.org
Over a decade ago, I reached out to my good friend, Larry Smail, with an idea regarding the 62nd PVI story…Larry and I are not only great friends, but former co-workers, who share many common interests, including history, art, music, and most importantly, faith…
This idea would focus on the history and art connections…Larry has long been a painter of wildlife ,and of historical figures, specifically from the French & Indian era…he had actually published a book about that local history during that period, and his artwork graced the cover of the book…so I thought, maybe he would be willing to create a Civil War painting, my intention being the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry in the Wheatfield at Gettysburg…well, I asked, and he agreed, and we were off to Gettysburg to spend some time in Rose’s Wheatfield…while Larry sketched and photographed the landscape and surroundings, I described to him as best I could what the scene might have been like on July 2, 1863…
After returning home, I gave him as many resources as were necessary, and after a few phone calls and visits, Larry began the process…I believe he still has the post on his site archived, where he describes that in detail https://larrysmailart.com
Months later, “The Wheatfield–Whirlpool of Death” was completed…the reason I had requested the painting was simple: to provide a visual means of telling the story of what the 62nd Regiment, as part of Col. Jacob B. Sweitzer’s 2nd Brigade of the 1st Division, Fifth Corps, Army of the Potomac, had experienced in their desperate fight during the second day of the Battle of Gettysburg…
In the years since, the painting has been printed, published, and circulated in many ways, shapes and forms…it is even available on flagstone, thanks to our friends at “Framing on Stone” https://framingonstone.com …but recently, the original intention of “telling the 62nd story” has, as they say, “come full circle”…Larry and I were contacted a few months ago by the folks from “The Civil War Times”…and the rest is, well, “History”!
The August issue of the magazine features William Cain of the 62nd on the cover, to go along with the “Gettysburg: Wheatfield Mayhem” story, by Scott Fink [pages 26-37]…
At the top of page 32, “The Wheatfield: Whirlpool of Death”, by Larry A. Smail…needless to say, we are both very pleased that the painting is still helping to tell the story…
A few of the other images within the article are also very familiar to our Living History Family…the “Sweitzer’s Brigade Flag”, which is housed at Soldiers & Sailors Memorial Hall in Pittsburgh, PA, was recently on display at our event for the Armstrong County Historical Museum & Genealogical Society…Michael Kraus, Curator at Soldiers & Sailors, was one of our guest speakers at the event, and brought the priceless artifact to display for a few hours…many of the other images of soldiers and artifacts are from the Ronn Palm Collection at “Civil War Images” in Gettysburg…
So, while the descendants and members of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History Family continues to honor the men of the 62nd, and their families, it is encouraging to know that we are not alone…to know that their story is being told, at a national level, and using some of the very resources that we have been using, well, that is truly special…
The magazine has been available at newsstands and bookstores for a few weeks now…
The original “Wheatfield–Whirlpool of Death” painting hangs in the Civil War Room at the Armstrong County Historical Museum, 300 North McKean Street, Kittanning, PA, 16201 https://www.achmgs.org
“The fear of the Lord is instruction in wisdom, and humility comes before honor.” –Proverbs 15:33
It wasn’t long after returning from Gettysburg, where we commemorated the 158th Anniversary of the Battle, and conducted our annual “Wheatfield Tribute” to honor the men of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, 5th Corps, Army of the Potomac [see the recent post “The Wheatfield: 158 years Later”], that I picked up my copy of “The Valley Mirror” from July 17, 2014…I keep this issue where I can find it, and from time to time will read the front page article “With Honor and Humility”, penned by our friend Ernie Spisak, after he had been our guest of honor for our “Wheatfield Tribute” on July 5, 2014…with tear-filled eyes I can still hear his voice saying “What a day this is…what a great day this is”…
It was after meeting Ernie following the release of his wonderful book “Pittsburgh’s Forgotten Civil War Regiment” [the regimental history of the 62nd PVI] that we invited Ernie, his wife Peggy, and daughter Danielle to be our guests for the ceremony…by this time in his life, Ernie’s eyesight was diminished, but he could see our regimental flag unfurled in the July sun…having devoted so much of his life to completing the history of the 62nd, it was a very special day for everyone…with permission from “The Mirror”, I will share Ernie’s words with you…
If it is true that spirits walk the face of this earth, then, surely on this day, July 5, 2014, and at this place, their presence could be felt. Under a cloudless blue sky, void of the customary oppressive humidity, a steady summer breeze blew across a large empty field. Quietly, I sat watching a large American flag waving in the breeze. Straining my ears, I heard a far off voice whispering. “Across the Nation, this day should be celebrated with parades, picnics, and illuminations in the sky”. John Adams spoke these words on July 4th, 1776, with the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Over the past 30 or so years, I have walked and stood on this field many times. However, this day was different; it exceeded my wildest imaginations.
A bright morning sun shone down upon the field. Simultaneously, the wind rattled the leaves in the far off trees and snapped the large American flag above my head. The distant voices of long ago faintly drifted on the breeze. “Well”, asked a young woman, “do we have a Monarchy or a Republic?” Mr. Benjamin Franklin, in 1787, replied, “A Republic, if you can keep it”. On that September 17th in Philadelphia, the Continental Congress completed the Nation’s Constitution.
It is Mr. Franklin’s remarks that lured me to this place today. In the spring of 1861, Franklin’s newly formed republic split in two and our country plunged into a great Civil War. During the second year of this war, in July of 1863, two enormous armies converged on this small crossroads village of Gettysburg. Under the Stars and Stripes, I sit on one of the many fields of battle. I sit in the Wheatfield where Rebels and Yankees turned the golden field of wheat into a bloody “Whirlpool of Death”.
A regiment from Pittsburgh, the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, fought in this Wheatfield. Today, I am sitting no more than ten feet from the monument dedicated to this regiment. Flying opposite of the American flag is the flag of the Fifth Corps; its red maltese cross with a white background blowing in the breeze. I am here as a guest of men who had ancestors serving in this regiment.
In the shadow of this large monument, this portion of the Wheatfield, within minutes, came alive. Before my eyes stood men of the 62nd in full uniform and equipped for battle. In formation, they formed to the side of their monument. Quietly, a First Sergeant called out commands to the troops. He then walked over to me, greeted me and requested that I hold something for him. Again, was I sitting among the spirits of the brave men who fought in this “Whirlpool of Death”?
No, this day I was sitting among the men who invited me. They are men who reenact the living history of Company D of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. As I sat, First Sergeant Daniel Warren Swigart, [aka Slim Bowser] handed me a shaft of wheat held together with a large mourning ribbon; he then went about his duties this day.
As other reenactors spoke, this First Sergeant returned to where I was sitting, stood by my side, then asked me to accompany him with the wheat and place it at the foot of the monument. Humbly, I followed the First Sergeant’s instructions and with honor assisted him with placing the shaft of wheat at the foot of the monument. I then retired to my seat. In full uniform, with his white gloves glistening in the sun, the First Sergeant stood at my side. Quietly, under the sounding of Taps, he gently placed his hand on my left shoulder. For a brief moment, fighting back a tear, my heart felt for these men, present and past, that today on this hallowed ground “The Circle of the 62nd Pennsylvania Had Gone Unbroken”.
Let it be known, that I humbly accepted the invitation of Company D because I recently published the history of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. In 1889, twenty six years after the Battle of Gettysburg, Adjutant William Patterson spoke these words at the dedication of the monument. He said, “The only glory the rank and file have is the honor and reputation of their own organization”. Today, 125 years later, these words still hold true. They hold true due to the sincere heartfelt dedication of the living history reenactors of Company D.
This photo of Ernie, holding a copy of his regimental history, was taken on the occasion of the sale of the 500th copy of the book….this framed image travels with us wherever we go…Ernie became a dear friend until his sudden passing on April 20, 2017…his affection for the 62nd Regiment, past, and present, are evident in his words…those sentiments are returned many times over…the descendants of the 62nd Veterans are eternally grateful to Ernie, Peggy and Danielle, for the overwhelming devotion to making certain that the 62nd story lives on…
As Providence would have it, many of the circumstances present in 2014 were present in 2021, including the weather, the need for remembrance, and the outpouring of support for the ceremony…
And as I was contemplating how to put these things together for this post, the scripture verse from Proverbs appeared on the screen like a beacon during this weeks message…
May God bless the 62nd PVI, the Spisak’s, and all of the members of the 62nd PVI Living History Family, as well as our friends and supporting cast…
The Circle of the 62nd Pennsylvania remains Unbroken!
A number of years ago, our friend, author, and fellow descendant Tom McMillan was our guest speaker for our “Wheatfield Tribute” ceremony…in his remarks as he stood feet away from the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry monument, Tom stated “I believe the Veterans of the 62nd would be quite shocked and surprised to see that after all of these years, we are still gathering in this place to remember them and what they did here”…
And once again, we gathered around the tall granite shaft, where on July 2, 1863, the men of the 62nd found themselves nearly surrounded on three sides as the battle ebbed and flowed in Rose’s Wheatfield…symbolically, we intentionally surrounded the monument with descendants, families, and friends on a rare “comfortable” July 3, 2021…
“Procession”
At a few minutes after 10:00 AM, the tribute started, as the men, women and children of the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry Living History Family [62ND PVI LHF] approached the monument site, led by descendants Gordon “Gordy” Sheaffer [2nd Lt. Jefferson Truitt], and myself, Robert “Slim” Bowser [1st Sgt. & Reverend Daniel W. Swigart]…once assembled, I welcomed the audience, and led everyone in prayer, followed by a few remarks about the significance of the day, the importance of remembrance, and a brief history of the regiment and its contribution to the great Battle of Gettysburg…this included comments about the “Colors”–the flags and guidons which were crucial to troop movements, and were priceless treasures to the men who fought and died under them…with the story of the 62nd and 4th Michigan’s fight for their flags in the Wheatfield being the feature article in the August issue of “The Civil War Times”, it seemed appropriate to make it a part of our tribute…
I then introduced Gordy Sheaffer, the founder of the living history group in 1994…Gordy continued the discussion about the flags, relating the experiences of Lt. Truitt, though not a part of the Color detail, grabbing the flag and saving it from being lost at the Battle of Malvern Hill…
Following Gordy’s remarks, 62nd PVI LHF member Cindy McShane, in her portrayal of Marie Tepe’, read from General Joshua L. Chamberlain’s post war “In great deeds” speech…quite the proper words for the occasion, eloquently read by Marie…
And, as if guided by providence, our final speaker, followed with the final paragraphs of Chamberlain’s memorable speech…we were extremely honored to have Col. Tom Vossler, {retired Vietnam combat Veteran, retired Licensed Battlefield Guide, author of books about the Gettysburg and Antietam battlefield, as well as his new release “BATTLE TESTED” [Gettysburg Leadership Lessons For 21st Century Leaders], and a dear friend and fellow “Wheatfield descendant”} as our guest speaker…when you tour the field with Col. Tom, you get a perspective of one who is “battle tested”, and who can make you feel like you were there!…so to have Tom speak for our ceremony was a special treat for everyone present…
To make the presentation of the “Wheat”, Col. Vossler was joined by SSGT Christopher Bargerstock, [active military], and his father Dwight, also a retired Vietnam Veteran…Chris and Dwight are descendants of Private Henry Bargerstock, who served in Co.D, along with Truitt and Swigart…
In a very humbling and emotional moment, three modern men of valor joined me in placing the Wheat tribute at the base of the monument to the 62nd Pennsylvania Volunteers, whose service and sacrifice in that field must never be forgotten…May God Bless them All!
As we rendered our salute, 62nd Bugler Brian Wolfe filled the valley with the solemn notes of “Taps”…
At the conclusion of the ceremony, the opportunity was given for all descendants present to step forward to introduce themselves, and to mention their ancestors’ names…I am told that as each name was mentioned, the wind lifted the regimental flag as if to say “we are grateful that you remember us still”…
In conclusion, I have said this before, and I must repeat it here again: It never ceases to amaze me, and humble me further, that of all of those who witness our ceremony and our living history events, it is the active military members and retired Veterans who are the first to express their appreciation to us…we do not take this lightly…God bless!
**The photos used in this post were taken by Van Cornish, with the exception of “The Wheat” and “Major Lowry’s Grave” by Slim Bowser, and “Wheatfield Tribute Group Photo” by Ted Chamberlain…
CoD62ndPVI 