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Gettysburg College First-Year Walk, 2025

August 23, 2025 by Jim Bargas

First-year Gettysburg College students and staff walked from the campus to the National Cemetery on Thursday evening. The Class of 2029 followed the walk with a sunset ceremony.

The annual walk is designed to help students learn about Gettysburg and become better connected to the community.

This tradition commemorates Nov. 19, 1863, when Gettysburg students walked with President Lincoln to Soldiers’ National Cemetery for the dedication and his Gettysburg Address—an event made possible by alumnus David Wills, who invited Lincoln to speak. Revived in 2004 by alumna Lindsay Morlock ’04, today’s Walk retraces those historic steps, blending celebration with reflection.