Smith’s Battery; photo courtesy: Gettysburg Foundation
There once was a boy who had never been to Gettysburg - the historic city and region that was the site of the bloodiest and the most pivotal battle of the American CivilWar.He did not go there with his elemen- tary school or his middle school,because those field trips were to Valley Forge andWashington,DC
instead.Nor were there any family outings to Gettysburg (Mom and Dad preferred Lancaster’s outlets and its smorgasbords).
Later,when the boy had grown to be a man,he never thought to visit Gettysburg with his wife or even with their
children.And through all of that time he lived less than a two-hour drive away from one of the most important places in America…
This sad,pathetic story is true, I’m embarrassed to admit: People from all over this country and from all over the world - four million visitors a year to be exact - have been to those hallowed grounds where over 23,000 Union and Confederate died,were injured or went missing, while fighting the battle that turned the tide of war, just as it defined war’s very meaning -
On July 1-3,1863, the future of freedom resided in Gettysburg.
If I had been depriving myself of a most important history lesson, then this knowledge was quickly realized - along with so much more - dur- ing a recent familiarization tour I attended with Destination Gettysburg, the region’s visitor resource.During that quick but fruitful trip, I found a place offering exponential opportunities for the event and association planner like me and it’s where I discovered a small town with a big heart that goes out seemingly to everyone who enters it,and a heritage that’s rooted in and growing from its thriving apple,wine, farm and food-based
collaborations.Too, it possesses a thriving art,music, shop- ping and dining scene,meaning –
Gettysburg isn’t just historic, anymore... 90 September October 2016
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100