Mike Jesberger was our presenter at the November 2 meeting. He fascinated us with details of the 50th Anniversary Reunion of the Battle of Gettysburg.
He spoke of how the reunion commission managed to stage a massive gathering of 53,000 Veterans, including 45,000 Union and 8,000 Confederate soldiers.
With financial contribution from state and federal government, and planning as if was a war itself, the reunion featured President Woodrow Wilson and lasted 6 days (June 29 to July 6), under the theme of Remembrance, Reflection, and Resolution.
The 280 acres hosted tents for housing, mess, latrines, medical, and many more practical functions. Water supplies were established, surgeries prepared, train schedules altered, and the town prepped.
Jesberger noted that the %3,000 number includes only veterans, not family, press or other visitors. An amazing accomplishment for a town that in the 50 years since the battle only had grown from 2,500 to 5,000 residents.
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