Eisenhower Society Hosts Birthday Commemoration
Join the Eisenhower Society Saturday, Oct. 17, to commemorate the 136th anniversary of Dwight D. Eisenhower’s birth. At noon, the Society will hold a short program and wreath-laying at the Eisenhower statue outside Eisenhower House, President Eisenhower’s retirement office at 300 Carlisle St. at Gettysburg College.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Scholarships will be awarded to four Gettysburg College students. The scholarships are funded by the Eisenhower Memorial Endowment and the Robert M. Hoffman Trust. The Dwight D. Eisenhower Society ROTC Leadership Award will also be presented to an outstanding Gettysburg College member of the Blue Mountain Battalion of the Reserve Officers Training Corps. Readings from Eisenhower’s books or correspondence will also be presented. The playing of “Taps” will conclude the 20-minute program. Attendance at the wreath-laying is free and open to the public.
Following the wreath-laying, the Society will hold a buffet dinner at 1 p.m. at the Historic Dobbin House, 89 Steinwehr Ave., Gettysburg. The buffet menu includes Chicken Coq Au Vin, baked ham with pineapple raisin sauce, and penne pasta with tomato sauce. Vegetables include rice pilaf, oven-roasted potatoes, buttered dilled carrots, and green beans almondine. A 25-item salad bar, fresh-baked breads, and desserts including fudge brownies, blueberry trifle, gingerbread with lemon sauce, and colonial pudding cake will also be available. Advance ticket purchase is required.
This year’s luncheon speaker is retired National Park Service ranger John Heiser, who will speak on “Eisenhower and the Men of D-Day.” Since retiring as an historian at Gettysburg National Military Park, Heiser has remained active with organizations related to U.S. culture and military history, with a focus on the Mediterranean Theater in World War II. He is an avid World War II living historian. He will share his research about General Eisenhower and the D-Day landings and show the standard 60-pound military kit carried by soldiers coming off the landing craft. Attendees may look at the items after the program.
Luncheon tickets are $35 per person or $210 for a group of six reserved seats. Reservations are available online at dwightdeisenhowersociety.org through Monday, Oct. 12, or sooner if the luncheon sells out. Information about registering by mail is available on the website. The luncheon has sold out in recent years.
For more information, contact Executive Director Carol Hegeman at 717-398-2349.
The Dwight D. Eisenhower Society is dedicated to promoting the memory and legacy of Eisenhower’s leadership through educational programs, scholarships, grants and special events.