What a Glorious Day! The weather on April 21, 2018 was perfect for our annual conservation work day at Gettysburg National Military Park. The site was the Henry Spangler Farm west of the Emmitsburg Road where armies clashed so long ago.
Sixty-six volunteers (yes, 66!!!) gave time and effort on a beautiful Spring day as farm fences were torn down and rebuilt, picket fences painted along the dirt road winding past the farm house and hundreds of yards of brush trimmed along more fences.
Round Table stalwarts Barry Arnold, Paul Bartlett, Chuck Cannon, Tony Major, Bob McHugh, Ed Root, and Alan Tjeltveit represented our group as well as members Terri Monroe and Gary Weaver who also represented with others the Whitehall Historical Society.
Bob McHugh’s students from Saucon Valley High School were out in force as well as John Duffy’s (Jim’s brother) Boy Scouts from New Tripoli Troop 89. The attendance and enthusiasm of these students and scouts is what makes this event a wonderful success. Without them our impact and help to the Park would be a mere shadow of what we’ve accomplished these past five years since we’re reconstituted our work at Gettysburg. We trust that their work and interest will nourish the seeds already planted by the scout and school leaders.
Family members from Tony’s and Ed’s clans also made the annual trek to work and learn.
Caitlin Brown, who is Gettysburg’s Volunteer Coordinator, and Jeremiah and George of the maintenance staff were wonderful and Caitlin presented an excellent program about the families who endured those terrible times and the troops who fought over their fields.
Ed Courrier, a freelance photographer with the Bethlehem Press, heard about our event and was present to take some great group photos.
A special thanks to Bob McHugh who generously provided coolers with iced H2O to quench the thirst of our wonderful volunteers.
This today’s language the day was a win win for all! Join us next year!
