Progress Advancing on 139th (and 140th) Gettysburg Reenactments
Progress Advancing on 139th (and 140th) Gettysburg Reenactments
June 19, 2002--What a difference a year divisible by five makes.
Organizers of this year's 139th Anniversary Re-enactment of the Battle of Gettysburg said Tuesday that they had pre-registered 3000 reenactors to participate in this year's event, and anticipated at least another thousand to roll in by the first day of the event.
The action will take place on the Yingling Farm on Pumping Station Road in Freedom Township on July 5, 6 and 7.
But for next year, the 140th anniversary of the three-day Pennsylvania action, the scale of participation changes entirely. The Anniversary Committee is anticipating 14,000 military re-enactors for the 140th and 700 horses, making it one of the largest re-enactments in history.
The 140th will take place on July 4, 5 and 6 in 2003 and will be held approximately 2 miles north of Gettysburg. The exact site of the event has not been specified, causing much speculation among Gettysburg fans as to what property in that area is suitable for such a massive invasion.
Just because next years' party is going to be bigger, organizers are taking nothing for granted about the one that will start a couple of weeks from now.
“It takes a lot of work to put these together,” said spokesman for the anniversary committee, George Lomas.
The committee has established a 24-hour command center, the Gettysburg Times reported, including traffic control and a 24-hour EMS with satellite locations during public hours, as well as numerous other preparations.
This year, the three-day event features two major battles each day. According to Lomas, the two- battle scenario is appreciated by not only the visitors but the re-enactors themselves.
“They love to play,” he said. “As always, we’ll have a licensed battlefield guide describing the battle, too.
The Living History Village and Living History Activities tent will feature a continuous variety of programs from the time the gates open until the end of the day.
“We’re also having organized tours through the living history village,” said Lomas. “There will be six stations that will explain things.
"We have 50 [participants] in Sutlers Village, carrying original equipment to reproductions,” Lomas added. “New this year will be period root beer and kettle corn.”
Patrick Falsi, who appeared in the movie, “Gettysburg,” will be one of several guest speakers in the Living History Activities Tent. He will recreate his role as General A. P. Hill.
Falsi also recently worked on the set of “Gods and Generals” as historical advisor to Ron Maxwell.
In an event that has become a Gettysburg tradition, as well as serving as a sort of dress rehearsal before the paying spectators arrive, on Wednesday, July 3 hundreds of youths from area camps, day care centers and church groups are treated to a Civil War Living History educational program at the reenactment site.
In another tradition, each year charities are chosen to receive a portion of the proceeds from the reenactment. This year they are: the Gettysburg National Military Park artillery restoration program; preservation of the Daniel Lady Farm; and the local Hospice.
