This article originally appeared in the pages of the Gettysburg Times, November of 2024. It was penned by Therese Orr of the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, in the hopes of sharing the work the Fellowship does.

Tuesday, November 19, marked the 161st anniversary of the dedication of the Soldiers National Cemetery and Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. Despite a forecast of cloudy skies, the sun shone through scattered clouds and temperatures in the 50’s made for a very pleasant day for an outdoor activity.

The day began with a carriage ride for our rostrum participants (speakers, ministers, special guests) from the David Wills house to the Baltimore Street gate of the cemetery. In 1863 the procession to the cemetery travelled from the Wills House, south on Baltimore Street, until turning onto today’s Steinwehr Avenue and Taneytown Road. The Lincoln Fellowship carriage ride began in 2023 and may become a yearly tradition.

The cemetery program began with a wreath-laying ceremony at the Soldiers National Monument. Bugler Jari Villanueva sounded “Assembly”; National Park Service (NPS) Ranger Chris Gwinn provided a historical interpretation; wreaths were presented; participants were awarded One Hundred Nights of Taps 2024 commemorative coins; Lincoln Fellowship historian John Tuskan spoke of 2LT Edmund Dascomb (the soldier honored on the coin); and Bugler Brian Poffenberger sounded “Taps”.

As the Rostrum participants took their seats the “One Hundred Nights of Taps, Gettysburg Fanfare” was played. This special piece was composed by Jari Villanueva in honor of our summertime Taps program. Following the singing of the National Anthem by the Gettysburg Choral Society and the Invocation by Rev. Dr. Theresa Smallwood of the United Lutheran Seminary, brief remarks were given by Superintendent Kristina Heister, Gettysburg National Military Park; Gene Barr, Vice Chair, Gettysburg Foundation; Robert Iuliano, President, Gettysburg College; and Wendy Allen, President, Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania. Music was also provided by the Gettysburg High School Ceremonial Band and baritone Wayne Hill.

The keynote speaker was Dr. Craig Symonds, Professor Emeritus of History at the United States Naval Academy, where he taught for thirty years. He focused his remarks on his introduction to the Gettysburg battlefield as a youth and the story of a New York soldier who died in the battle, SGT Amos Humiston.

Each year a special ceremony takes place as part of our Dedication Day program: the naturalization of 16 new citizens of the United States. As one listens to the oath of allegiance they take, one realizes the enormity of what they are leaving behind and the promises they make to be citizens of our great country. Following their oath, they were greeted with a standing ovation from the crowd. Representatives of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented our new citizens with flags and copies of the U.S. Constitution.

Two long-time supporters of the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania were presented with honorary memberships in our organization by our president, Wendy Allen. Plaques made from pieces of the witness Sycamore from Baltimore Street were given to Lincoln scholars Harold Holzer and Dr. Gabor Boritt. Following this presentation Harold Holzer delivered the Gettysburg Address.

Mrs. Beth Carmichael, widow of Dr. Peter Carmichael, was presented a flag flown at the cemetery on November 19. Dr. Carmichael was the Director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College and a beloved member of our Gettysburg community and the Civil War community.

Rev. Stephen Herr, Christ Lutheran Church, provided the Benediction.

Members of the Lincoln Fellowship concluded our day with our annual meeting and luncheon at Beyond the Battle Museum.

We hope to see you not only in 2025, but also in 2026 where we will recreate the original Dedication Day ceremony as part of the nationwide America 250 celebration.