Leon Reed 
George Washington was the furthest thing from a “share the campfire with the boys” leader. Often traveling by carriage, he typically stayed in a comfortable farmhouse near the military encampment and usually dined with his aides or generals. But after his Christmas-time 1776-1777 victories at Trenton and Princeton, his soldiers became extraordinarily devoted to their
I met my great grandfather’s commanding officer this weekend. Jeremiah Lott served as a bugler in the 4th Dragoon Regiment, commanded by Col. Stephen Moylan. Jim French, who portrays Moylan, and a few other members of the 4th Dragoons were in town at the living history encampment at Gettysburg High School, which was held in
By comparison to later wars, the battles of the Revolutionary War tended to involve a small number of troops and took place over a small area. But the fighting was no less intense. The fights at Paoli, PA, and Stony Point, NY, illustrate the brutality of these fights. The “Paoli Massacre” took place on the
Supplying an 18th century army was not as complex as it was during WWII, but still Washington’s army needed supplies. Besides commercially available items like food and uniforms, the main needs of the army were: muskets and rifles, powder, lead for bullets, cannon, and ammunition for cannon. The mercantilist policy prevalent in the 18th century
About a hundred fans of the 250th gathered at the Beyond the Battle Museum on Saturday, March 14 to unveil the Adams County 250 Bell. It is part of the “Bells Across Pennsylvania” initiative, a program to develop a Liberty Bell replica for each of Pennsylvania’s 67 counties. The Adams County bell was created by
Yorktown (VA) the town where British general Charles, Lord Cornwallis surrendered his army and in effect brought an end to the war, is the most famous York in the Revolutionary War. But the city of the same name in south central Pennsylvania deserves mention. Most notably, York, Pennsylvania, was the Capital of the United States
Few people would argue that the Ayatollah was not a brutal dictator who repressed his people and supported terrorism. The people of Iran are undoubtedly better off without him. Or are they? To evaluate the long-term results, it is necessary to consider: (a) whether this will improve the lives of the Iranian people; (b) whether
Paul Revere #2: The Ride and its consequences By mid-April 1775, the British army’s “secret” preparations for a mission to the Boston countryside were on sight for everyone to see. The scouting parties had largely finished their work. Soldiers and sailors were mending and replacing equipment, breaking out field equipment, and conducting maneuvers west of
In my lifetime, George Washington’s reputation has been transformed several times, from the pious jerk of the Parson Weems tales to the profiteer of Gore Vidal’s “An Evening With Richard Nixon” and “George Washington’s Expense Account” to a wooden figurehead who was neither a competent general nor an especially impressive president. In fact, the standards
The Battle of the Bulge Association (BOBA) and WWII American Experience will observe Black History Month by examining the role of African Americans in the military, with special attention to WWII and President Truman’s 1947 decision to desegregate the Army. This presentation will occur at the first meeting of BOBA’s first Dwight D. Eisenhower chapter.
Everybody knows the story of Paul Revere’s ride – or thinks they do: the lonely rider, galloping through a town, shouting “The Redcoats Are Coming!” In the broad scheme of the Revolution, Revere has been reduced to a bit part, his importance diminished by comments such as, “He didn’t even finish the ride, Samuel Prescott
For more than a century, from 1640 to 1763, England was consumed with Civil War, dynastic turbulence, and superpower land wars in Europe. During this time, England’s new American colonies enjoyed substantial autonomy. In 1763, at the end of what we call the French and Indian War, England found itself in possession of its own
Hundreds of people gathered at the Gettysburg Days Inn and the Hilton Garden Inn on Thanksgiving Eve for the first-ever Gettysburg Community Thanksgiving Dinner, a grassroots effort that quickly grew into a county-wide celebration of generosity. “It’s a blessing,” said David, an all-day volunteer. “For the volunteers, the guests—the whole community.” What began less than
Reflections on the enduring relevance of Abraham Lincoln were at the heart of today’s Dedication Day ceremonies in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, marking the 162nd anniversary of the Gettysburg Address. The event was co-sponsored by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania, Gettysburg National Military Park (GNMP), Gettysburg College, and the Gettysburg Foundation. Kristina Heiser, GNMP superintendent,
An offbeat but compelling traveling exhibit is taking up much of the front lobby exhibit space at the World War II American Experience museum in Gettysburg. Between now and the end of October, “The Longest Yarn; a Thread Through History” will show in crocheted and knitted objects a detailed survey of D-Day and the first
For the ninth consecutive year, the solemn sounds of “Taps” are echoing through Gettysburg National Military Park each evening as part of the One Hundred Nights of Taps program. Traditionally held at the Soldiers’ National Monument, the nightly tribute now takes place at the Pennsylvania Memorial, where it continues to draw volunteer buglers and history
In a significant expansion of its commitment to community health, WellSpan Health has announced a $3.5 million grant investment over the next three years to support nonprofit organizations implementing innovative housing solutions across its service area. Gettysburg-based South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP) will receive $750,000 to support both ongoing and new affordable housing initiatives
Tracking federal budget decisions is never easy. Between the president’s budget proposal, congressional resolutions, appropriations bills, and last-minute continuing resolutions, the process is complicated even in a typical year. But this year is anything but typical. On top of the standard appropriations process, executive branch actions—some unilateral and potentially subject to judicial review—have introduced deep
The disgrace of Dred Scott (Sept 17, 1858)? Plessy v. Ferguson (May 18, 1896)? Internment of Japanese citizens (February 1942)? The fiasco of the Gulf of Tonkin Resolution (August 7, 1964)? Invasion of Iraq (April 9, 2003)? There have been other candidates, but for pure evil and corruption, concentrated in one man, I think it’s
A crowd of roughly 250 people gathered Saturday at The Barn Resort for a “People’s Town Hall,” calling on elected officials to engage more directly with their constituents. The event featured appearances by U.S. Rep. Madeleine Dean (D-PA 4th), who spoke via Zoom, and Pennsylvania State Rep. and Democratic National Committee co-chair Malcolm Kenyatta. Notably
The 1947 Truman Doctrine promised that the U.S. would provide military, economic, and political support to democratic countries threatened by authoritarian rule. From its issuance on March 12, 1947, until this year, the U.S. stood as the unquestioned world leader against tyranny. We sometimes supported equally bad tyrants because they claimed to be fighting communists,
A capacity crowd gathered Sunday afternoon in the Lutheran Seminary’s Valentine Hall for a presentation of a video documentary and panel discussion on “The Underground Railroad in South Central Pennsylvania.” The program was sponsored by Pathways to Racial Justice and featured a video in the Keystone Oral Histories project by former teacher Bryan Wade. The
The treatment of Gettysburg’s two hometown presidents has always been somewhat imbalanced. The one who slept here overnight and gave a speech has at least six statues in town and is the regular subject of a flood of books, articles, conferences, and plays. The one who lived here for 20 or more years gets two
A lot of attention has been given lately to Project 2025, a 900+ page blueprint for a second Trump administration produced by the collective efforts of many conservative activists and published by the Heritage Foundation. The report is highly specific, addressing each federal agency on a program-by-program basis. It can be hard to sink your
The catastrophe represented by the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision on the Chevron case puts it among the all-time worst decisions of the Roberts Court – and that’s saying a lot. And in the wall-to-wall coverage, I haven’t seen any reporter who’s addressed the real issue. We’re really paying for the non-specialist, inexperienced, election “horse-race” journalists
***Abraham Brian moved from Maryland to Gettysburg in 1840 and bought a 12 acre farm on what is now Gettysburg battlefield. Returning after the armies departed to find his animals and crops gone and his farm damaged, Brian and his family slowly rebuilt. James Warfield was a farmer and blacksmith, living at the time of
Memorial Day ceremonies were held at the Lincoln Cemetery on Sunday. The ceremonies were led by Jean Green, Chair of the Lincoln Cemetery Project Association. In introductory remarks, she explained that the small orange flags mark 136 burial sites with no headstones. These burial sites were identified with ground penetrating radar. Green reported that the
Gettysburg’s second Ken Burns Film Festival and third major celebration of historical films in little more than a year drew 4000+ people to events this weekend. This time the leading attractions weren’t Gettysburg’s George Pickett (Stephen Lang) and James Longstreet (Tom Berenger) but instead were Law and Order prosecutor Jack McCoy (Sam Waterston) and West
I still remember in October 2009, when conservatives openly gloated about the rejection of the US bid to host the 2016 Olympic games. “”THE EGO HAS LANDED: WORLD REJECTS OBAMA” said the conservative Drudge Report website after the opportunity to host the games in Chicago lost out to Rio de Janiero. The reason seemed be,
For the past dozen years or so, if you wanted to know the construction status of a Habitat for Humanity home in Adams County, what was due to happen next, which volunteer groups were due to work when, which weekends had plenty of volunteers and when help was needed, when the project would need electricians,
Our hometown took a large step to solidify its position as a leading center of World War II studies and commemoration with a major conference on the Battle of the Bulge, held at the World War II American Experience Museum in Gettysburg on Jan. 27. The conference was sponsored by the Battle of the Bulge
The hometown of one of the greatest battles ever fought by the U.S. Army paid homage to another battle yesterday. On the 79th anniversary of the beginning of the Battle of the Bulge, Eisenhower Farm Historic Site ranger Dan Vermilya hosted a walk and reflection in the National Cemetery. The World War 2 so-called Battle
After more than a year of negotiations and delays, the Habitat for Humanity partnership with the Adams County Technical Institute (ACTI) is underway. Site preparation work on the lot in Hunterstown has been completed and the students are now at work on the project, gaining practical skills while also increasing the county’s store of affordable
A collection of Gettysburg royalty, including Acting Park Superintendent Zachary Bolitho; Gettysburg College president Robert Iuliano; Gettysburg Foundation chair Wayne Motts; Lincoln scholar and Lincoln Forum chair Harold Holzer; writer and policy analyst Susan Eisenhower; and Wendy Allen, president of the Lincoln Fellowship, moved indoors to the Majestic Theater to celebrate the 160th anniversary of
“The only way things improve,” Maryland Governor Wes Moore told a crowd of several hundred at the Eisenhower Institute’s 22nd Annual Blavatt Lecture, “is when the younger generation pushes us to improve.” Speaking on the topic, “More than Waving a Flag: Redefining American Democracy in a Gen-Z World,” Moore advised younger people, “We can scream
Director Ron Maxwell, actors Stephen Lang and Tom Berenger, and a dozen other cast members and crew joined hundreds of starstruck history and movie buffs this weekend to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the 1993 release of the film “Gettysburg.” The celebrations occurred across the county at the Adams County Historical Society (ACHS), the Seminary
Jill Ogline Titus, deputy director of the Civil War Institute at Gettysburg College and the author of Gettysburg 1963: Civil Rights, Cold War Politics, and Historical Memory in America’s Most Famous Small Town, spoke at the Lutheran Seminary’s Valentine Hall on “A New Birth of Freedom? Civil Rights and Black History in 20th Century Gettysburg.”
Every Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra performance is special, but this fall’s concert, to be held Sunday, Sep. 10, at 4:00 p.m. in the Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary Chapel, is particularly noteworthy. First, the occasion marks the return of cellist Colin Stokes. The son of Gettysburg residents Lisa Portmess and Harry Stokes, Stokes was born and raised in
What is it about Gettysburg? Why does the place have such a grip on our culture and our sense of who we are? The idea of Gettysburg as a place symbolic of “new beginnings,” fights to the death, or turning points, seems fixed in the public imagination. Consider these disparate examples: In the midst of
The 32nd annual Peace Camp, sponsored by the International Center for Peace and Justice, wrapped up its week on Friday. The camp was held at the VIDA Charter School and was attended by about 75 students, junior counselors, and counselors. The week included sessions on identity, belonging, service learning, mediation, and community change, as well
Connection staff writer Leon Reed will be making two presentations on important turning points in US History in the next week. On Tuesday, May 23, he will speak at 6:30 pm at the main branch of the Adams County Public Library on “Fort Sumter and its Long Shadow: The North Mobilizes and the Border States
A long-term partnership came to fruition on Friday when volunteers from the Gettysburg Garden Club turned out at the newest Habitat for Humanity construction site on Orrtanna Rd. and transformed the front planting area from bare soil to a fully planted and mulched display of bushes. The project was the brainchild of Garden Club member
We have much wisdom to gain by learning to understand other people’s cultures and permitting ourselves to accept that there is more than one version of reality. — Louis Menand, Pulitzer Prize-winning author. When people mention “the Greatest Generation,” they’re usually referring to the men who rid the world forcibly of Hitler, Mussolini, and the Japanese
“We had an almost mystical visit to the cemetery,” said Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer about his recent trip to Gettysburg with 19 Hunter College students. “We walked in via the route Lincoln took and visited the soldiers’ monument plus the now famous rhododendron bush [recently identified as the spot where Lincoln stood to deliver his
The GASD school board took a small step toward board review of library book purchases at the April 17 meeting. Board member Michele Smyers questioned a routine notification of book purchases for the library and suggested that board members should review such purchases before they are approved. She stated she had reviewed the proposed purchase
Two parents expressed concerns at Monday evening’s Gettysburg Area School District school board meeting about the lack of administrative policy and action to protect students from hate speech and in-person or cyber-bullying at district schools. Jenine Weaver, who has four children in district schools, said that “hate speech is running rampant,” particularly slurs aimed at
The Gettysburg Area School Board has approved a change to its library media policy that will allow parents to specify material that their children may not read. The new policy instructs the school system staff to develop a system that will allow parents to specify books their children shouldn’t have access to. Despite the potentially-contentious
An amended version of Gettysburg Area School District’s policy on library materials and resources was considered by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday evening, moving closer to formal board consideration on March 6. The only change to the policy is the addition of this line: “The Superintendent or Designee will develop a procedure to
A rough consensus has emerged about Jimmy Carter’s presidency (1977-1981) and his subsequent life. Between his work on democracy and elections and his work volunteering for Habitat for Humanity, there is little doubt that he set a standard for the post-presidency not likely to be equaled. And this record has been widely acknowledged, including the
Last summer, the Civil War publisher Savas Beatie held its annual meetup in Gettysburg. This is about as high-octane a Civil War crowd as you will find: publisher Ted Savas and much of his staff, more than a dozen of the leading Civil War writers in the country, and a crowd of people who would
Ken Burns, the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) filmmaker who has done so much to explore “Who We Are,” is in town all weekend for his first-ever retrospective film festival. “Who Are We: A Festival Celebrating the Films of Ken Burns” is jointly sponsored by Gettysburg College and the Gettysburg Majestic Theater. At a discussion on
Way back when I was a youthful 68 years old, I was the one people told “I’d have never believed you were that old.” Now, five years later, time has caught up and I’m the one who everyone asks, “May I carry your tray, Sir?” As philosopher Ferris Bueller observed, “Life moves pretty fast. If you
“Christian Nationalism is a radical, fanatical departure from the teachings of Jesus and any faithful reading of either the Hebrew Bible or the New Testament, and it is also dangerously anti-democratic,” said Orrtanna resident Pamela Cooper-White, speaking on the second anniversary of the January 6, 2021, attack on the U.S. Capitol Building in Washington by
Megan Shreve, Executive Director of South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP), addressed the state of SCCAP and issues affecting the county in a recent presentation to the members of in a recent presentation to the members of the county’s advocacy group, Democracy for America. Saying SCCAP’s condition is currently very, Shreve said financial stability has
Adams County’s State Senator Doug Mastriano used his Christian Nationalist beliefs to argue in a recent Gettysburg Times opinion piece that the battlefield successes of United States military forces are part of his Christian God’s plan for our nation and that two of the American army’s greatest accomplishments, including George Washington’s escape from the British
At Gettysburg Area School District’ annual reorganization meeting last evening, President Kenneth Hassinger was re-elected as Board President for 2023 and Mike Dickerson was elected Vice President. Both votes were split with 8 members in favor and Amy Beth Hodges voting against. The board agreed to comply with state and federal laws, designated the Gettysburg
The Gettysburg Area School District School Board voted yesterday evening to resume discussions about the proposed project to replace the HVAC system, roofing, lighting, and other facilities at Lincoln and James Gettys Elementary schools. The board had rejected a motion to move forward with the project in Sept. Board President Kenny Hassinger, along with board
Hundreds of people passing through the National Cemetery in Gettysburg at around 2:00 p.m. on Remembrance Day, 2022 (Nov.19) were curious what a small group of people were doing with a spool of red, white, and blue ribbon on both sides of the fence separating the National and Evergreen cemeteries. As one member of the
A collection of Gettysburg royalty – Park Superintendent Steve Sims, Gettysburg College President Robert Iuliano, Gettysburg Foundation President Wayne Motts, Lincoln Fellowship President The Reverend Steve Herr, and Gettysburg Forum chair Harold Holzer – together with superstar historians John Meacham and Dr. Allen Guelzo, gathered in the National Cemetery today to celebrate the 159th anniversary
In the first major land preservation action in the core area of the of the Gettysburg battlefield since the 2003 demolition of the Home Sweet Home Motel, the American Battlefield Trust (ABT) plans to purchase the site of General Pickett’s Buffet Restaurant located on the southern edge of Gettysburg at 571 Steinwehr Avenue. The site is
Traditionally, when the vast majority of votes were cast on election day, there were states where it was possible to project most Senate and congressional races within an hour or so after polls closed and it was possible for an attentive viewer to forecast trends by perhaps 9:00, certainly 10:00 in the evening. The advent
Over 150 members of the Battle of the Bulge Association (BOBA), including 10 Bulge veterans, visited Gettysburg recently for a weekend of fun, reunion, and education. The Battle of the Bulge, fought in 1944 and 1945, was the last major German offensive campaign during World War II. The veterans represented a wide range of Bulge
Having been called out by name by Dan Moul at Wednesday night’s debate, I’d like to claim the privilege to respond. First, Dan Moul started his two-minute opening remarks criticizing opponent Marty Qually for having already gone negative. “I didn’t know we were going into the attack mode right off the bat – I was
The Gettysburg school board unanimously approved the sale of a building lot on Hunterstown Rd. to the Adams County chapter of Habitat for Humanity at its meeting last night. The sale is at market rates and the intention is that a partnership will be developed between Adams County Technical Institute and Habitat to construct an
The Gettysburg Area School District (GASD) Board of Directors voted last night to reject a proposed $33,789,000 project that would have replaced the HVAC systems and perform other work at James Gettys and Lincoln elementary schools. The vote effectively delays the project at least a year unless there is an emergency. The business meeting was
At its regular board meeting on Tuesday evening, the GASD school board approved replacement of the high school athletic field and received a final briefing on the $33.8 million HVAC replacement at Lincoln and James Gettys elementary schools. A final vote to approve the latter project is anticipated at the next scheduled meeting, September 19.
The student debt crisis is largely one of the Republicans’ making. Among the main reasons college became so unaffordable is the slashed state contributions to their state college systems, started during the Reagan presidency, largely brought about because of the George Bush recession and engineered by Republican state legislatures. The average state spent $1,448, or
Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin’s appearance at Gettysburg College drew approximately 100 people, roughly divided between seniors and college students. The event was sponsored by Gettysburg College Jewish Studies. Her topic was “Defending American Democracy: The Midterm Test.” Rubin started by saying she had enjoyed her battlefield tour earlier in the day, and had just
When I first read about PA State Senate candidate John Fetterman renting a plane to tow a banner making fun of his opponent Mehmet Oz’s New Jersey home, I thought that was clever. And reinforcing it with an ad featuring reality star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi of MTV’s “Jersey Shore” jabbing at Oz for leaving his
With continuing gridlock in Washington and increased state legislative action on guns, election laws, abortion, and many other issues, state legislatures are more and more important. Republicans have had an advantage in state governments for a long time but this advantage grew significantly in 2010, when Democratic timidity in the face of the Obamacare backlash
PA Governor Tom Wolf and other dignitaries gathered in front of the William Goodridge Freedom Center and Underground Railroad site in York on Friday. They were there to unveil and dedicate a monument of William Goodridge, who was born in slavery but became one of York’s leading businessmen and a major leader on the Underground
When I first broke into the U.S. government consulting business, in 1981, I worked briefly on the continuity of government (COG) program. In particular, I worked on the part of it that was concerned with maintaining the presidential line of succession. I was impressed with the number of statements I signed promising not to breathe
“Pale Erections: The Monuments Play,” a play based loosely on the militia/white supremacist takeover of Gettysburg National Military Park on July 4, 2000, made its debut before an appreciative audience Friday, May 27 at the Howard County Arts Council in Ellicott City. The play is written by Gettysburg native Kramer Hardman and directed by Gettysburg
My name is Leon Reed and I live In Cumberland Township. I’d like to start by thanking you for your service. I know you don’t hear that often and I appreciate the work you do. I taught US History in public schools in Virginia for 10 years and I am now a fulltime writer and
The leading trade publisher of Civil War and other military history books, Savas Beatie, sponsored their 3rd Gettysburg Meetup from August 12-15. The meetup gave a chance for approximately 200 Civil War enthusiasts to meet at least 20 Savas Beatie authors in informal settings, attend battlefield tours, hear author presentations and panel discussions – and
In Gettysburg, where much of the tourist infrastructure is aging, it is a very welcome event when a brand new, first-rate, historic attraction opens. The Lomas Center museum, located at 50 Mayor Alley, behind the Farnsworth House promises to become a significant stop on the circuit for history-minded visitors. A private museum operated by the
I write books that sell to tourists. Like everyone else, last year was a “survive until next year”year. I plan to sell several thousand copies this year – if it’s recovery year. But to do that, thetourists have to come. And looking around the area and reading all the literature, I believe theonly thing that
When former president Trump demanded that state legislators in Michigan and Pennsylvania – and undoubtedly other states — step in and steal the election in their state, they frequently replied, “We can’t intervene as the President asks because our state laws give us no role in choosing electors.” Republican efforts to disenfranchise millions of voters
In all likelihood, the president elected in 2020 may well be the last president elected from the baby boom (Trump) or earlier (Biden) generation. The question for younger voters is what does the 2020 election have to do with us? The answer is, more than you can imagine. This election will go a long way
One thing on the ballot in 2020 is the basic concept of checks and balances and with it, the viability of our democracy. The Constitutional Convention was one of the most divided assemblies ever. There wasn’t even agreement that a new constitution was needed. People who wanted a stronger federal government disagreed with those who
The Adams County workforce has been significantly impacted by the coronavirus shutdown with almost ten times as many workers receiving unemployment benefits now than before the health crisis began. Statistics gathered by the Pennsylvania State Center for Workforce Information and Analysis show that in early March, 599 people (about 1% of the total county labor
The decennial census has arrived, almost exactly at the same time as the possible impacts of the COVID-19 virus became evident. The near-shutdown is going to make everything about the count more complicated and puts pressure on everyone to complete their census count on their own and as soon as possible. The official “Census Day”
“It is not just the creation of jobs, but the capacity created in a community to identify and use resources for long-term growth.” Gary Laird, president, Hanover Chamber of Commerce. Local business and nonprofit leaders as well as interested community members met at HACC on Wednesday at the December @Home Community Coalition meeting. The purpose
More than 350 scholars and enthusiasts met November 16-18 at the Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel for three days of discussions about Lincoln and the Civil War at the 24th annual Lincoln Forum. It was the largest crowd in the forum’s 24-year history. Lincoln biographer Sidney Blumenthal (right) meets his biographical subject (impersonator George Buss) Presenters discussed