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July 1913. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. "Gettysburg reunion: G.A.R. & U.C.V. veterans at the encampment." Some of the 53,000 Civil War veterans, members of either the Grand Army of the Republic (Union troops) or the United Confederate Veterans, who reunited at Gettysburg on the 50th anniversary of the battle there. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
These are my great-grandparents Israel H. and Phebe Angline Smith. They had a farm near York, PA that was raided by the Confederates 2 days prior to the Battle of Gettysburg. They lost horses, mules, grain and feed. Israel fought in the battle. I too, hope that he was at the reunion. He passed away in 1915.
I am a high school history and government teacher. I'm a vet and my father was a WW II vet. I often have students come up to me and say "My grandpa was in the war, --he was in Viet Nam." To illustrate how young our country is I point out that when I was a kid EVERYONE'S father was a WW II vet and the old guys were WW I vets. I remember my dad saying that when he was a kid; EVERYONE'S father was in WW I & the old-guy vets were from the Civil War.
If we read into contemporary Civil War anecdotes they often refer to their fathers and grandfathers fighting the Revolution.
The last Civil War vet died the year that I was born. There have been 44 presidents and I've lived during ELEVEN of them. I'm "only" 58 years old. Sheesh---
Twenty years later, enough of these stalwarts still drew breath to hold a 70th reunion!
In just 3 years it will be 50 years since I went to Vietnam. I don't look anything like these old Veterans. Well, other than sporting a gray goatee, but I think I'm 27.
If you ever get the chance highly recommend visiting Gettysburg. When we went there, years ago, there was an impressive model of the battle on display. You also have Hersheypark, the Hershey Hotel, and the Amish in the Lancaster area. Great place to visit.
Was from North Carolina and would have been at Gettysburg except he deserted the week before. Had he not evaded that particular battle, my wife might never have been...
I have read that veterans from both sides embraced each other in tears at this reunion. What stories they must have shared.
My GGG Grandfather, Samuel Frye, 18th Regiment, Pennsylvania Cavalry, 163rd PA Vols.
He was at the battle of Gettysburg, I would like to think he made it to this reunion.
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