Memorial Day Weekend Program Honors Fatalities from All Wars Buried at Gettysburg

“A Century of Sacrifice:” Special NPS Memorial Day Weekend Program To Honor Fatalities from All Wars Buried in Gettysburg National Cemetery ~ May 23rd

For more than one hundred years, fallen United States servicemembers were interred with honor at the Gettysburg National Cemetery. This Memorial Day weekend, explore some of the lesser-known stories of those who were laid to rest in this National Cemetery. Park rangers from Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site will discuss the creation and history of the Gettysburg National Cemetery and highlight the stories of several servicemembers from each of America’s armed conflicts from the Civil War through the war in Vietnam who were laid to rest in the cemetery from the 1860s through the early 1970s. 

As the final resting place for over 6,000 men and women who served the United States, Gettysburg National Cemetery is a fitting place to remember the meaning of Memorial Day and how the United States remembers its fallen.  

 

Join Park Rangers on Saturday, May 23, at 10 am for a free 90-minute guided walking tour of the Gettysburg National Cemetery, focusing on stories of some of the fallen servicemembers buried there.  

 

Gettysburg National Military Park and Eisenhower National Historic Site are pleased to cosponsor this event. The program will begin at the Taneytown Road Entrance of the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Will the Klingel Farm at Gettysburg National Military Park be restored?

Story from 21 TV News

https://local21news.com/

Klingel Farmhouse - https://local21news.com/

by Sarah Burns Mon, April 27, 2026

ADAMS COUNTY, Pa. (WHP) — The National Park Service said Monday it is planning on starting rehabilitation work on the Klingel Farm in Gettysburg.

The Klingel Farm was an integral structure in the battle of Gettysburg.

In April of 1863, the Klingel family moved into the home, and ran a shoe shop in town.

By July, they would join many other families in evacuating with impending movement from Union and Confederate soldiers.

Union soldiers would ultimately occupy the home, knocking holes in the wall to shoot incoming confederate advances.

After the battle, it would become a hospital to serve the wounded soldiers.

Today, the farm house is still standing, but only with the help of structural support on either side.

Wood on the outside of the home is rotting away, some holes in the building go as deep as inside its inner walls.

The house is closed off, marked as a hard hat area, and private property.

Local Steven Voorhis suggested "they ought to have some real restoration people that know how to, you know square logs and make, you know, the log notches and everything and do what they have to do to preserve."

Spokesperson for the park Jason Martz said they've explored two options, the favored of which "includes structural stabilization designed to maximize the preservation of historic fabric and rehabilitation of the structure to its commemorative era appearance."

Officials said they are currently working on a timeline for… CLICK HERE TO READ THE STORY ON 21 NEWS

Spangler Farm & Field Hospital Reopens for Spring and Summer Programs


The George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital Reopens for Spring and Summer Programs

Family Day at Spangler kicks off the season Saturday, May 9, 2026.

Gettysburg, Pa. (April 30, 2026)—Gettysburg Foundation invites the local community and visitors to the historic 80-acre George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital this spring and summer. The site reopens for the season with a range of programs that bring its Civil War history to life through tours, living history and special events.

 

Once a thriving family farm, the property was transformed into a Union Army field hospital during the Battle of Gettysburg, treating more than 1,900 wounded soldiers. Today, the site is preserved to share the stories of those who lived, worked and received care there.

 

"The George Spangler Farm & Field Hospital holds a unique place in the Gettysburg’s story,” said Billy Griffith, Gettysburg Foundation’s Historic Sites Manager. “Our spring and summer programming offers visitors of all ages an opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of one of the most significant events in our nation’s history.”

 

Season highlights include:

 

Family Day at Spangler (Free Event)

Saturday, May 9  |  10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Family Day offers living history, exhibits, demonstrations and activities for all ages.

· Engage with living historians of the Blue & Gray Hospital Association, 4th Texas, Co. B, Battery B, 1st Rhode Island Artillery.

· Explore the barn and summer kitchen.

· View artillery demonstrations (non-firing).

· See Civil War medicine, equipment, displays and demonstrations.

· Learn about historic barn preservation with Historic Gettysburg Adams County.

· Enjoy period toys, games and a craft.

· Participate in story times at 11 a.m., Noon and 1 p.m. with the Adams County Library System.

· Savor free ice cream from Cone Sweet Cone, while supplies last.

Reservations are not required. Limited on-site parking is available.

 

Evening Programs (in partnership with Gettysburg College’s Civil War Institute)
Fridays, May 15 and June 19  |  6 – 8 p.m.
Programs feature emerging scholars and established historians, with topics including the ecological history of the farm’s vernal pool and the 1862 New Mexico Campaign, often referred to as the “Gettysburg of the West.” Tickets are required. On-site parking is provided.

 

Author Walk-and-Talks

Monday, June 15; Sunday, July 5; and Friday, July 31  |  6 – 8 p.m.
Author Ron Kirkwood will lead presentations and guided walks exploring stories from the site, joined by guest speakers including Carol Reardon, Ph.D. and Carolyn Ivanoff. Tickets are required. On-site parking is provided.

 

Guided Tours

Fridays and Saturdays, May through October

May 22-23, June 26-27, July 3-4, July 24-25, Aug. 21-22, Sept. 25-26 and Oct. 23-24  |  10:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
In-depth tours exploring the history of the site and individuals connected to it will be offered on select weekends. Timed shuttle and admission tickets are required. Timed shuttles depart the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center at 9:40 a.m. and 1:10 p.m. on the published tour dates.

 

Living History Weekends

Saturdays and Sundays, June 12-13, July 10-11, Aug. 7-8  |  10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Interactive weekends feature demonstrations  by Civil War era living historians portraying camp life and the experiences of soldiers and civilians. Timed shuttle and admission tickets are required. Timed shuttles depart the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center every 20 minutes from 10 a.m. through 1:40 p.m., with return shuttles on schedule. The final return shuttle departs the historic site at 3:20 p.m.

 

Timed shuttle and admission ticket reservations are required for Guided Tours and Living History Weekends. Access is provided via timed shuttles departing the nearby Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center. Tickets may be reserved by phone at 877-874-2478 or 717-334-2436, online at GettysburgFoundation.org or in person at the Museum & Visitor Center, 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg.

All programming is dependent on favorable weather conditions and is subject to change.

 

Free "Recruit Skirmish" & CW Learning Opportunity on Sunday, August 9, 2026

The Middle Atlantic Region of the North-South Skirmish Association (N-SSA) is hosting a free "Recruit Skirmish" on Sunday, August 9, 2026, from noon till about 4PM, where we will be teaching attendees how to safely load and fire Civil War-era muzzleloading rifles. N-SSA members will provide all the necessary firearms, ammunition and accoutrement, and instruction will be 1:1 with experienced members and NRA Certified Muzzleloading Instructors. 

 

The event will take place at the Springtown Rod & Gun Club in Springtown (Hellertown), Upper Bucks County, Pa. There is a pavilion in case of inclement weather (though the event will be held rain or shine) as well as a clubhouse with indoor facilities. Light snacks will be provided.

 

Below is a flyer where can find more information about the the Recruit Skirmish on our Facebook event page at https://www.facebook.com/events/999614049413972, or sign up directly at https://forms.gle/wuQ2BB8X5wM8W8y88. Registration is required for those who wish to participate--so we have enough firearms and ammunition for all, but it is also open to any spectators (as are all of our regular competitions, listed on the second flyer below).

Burnside Sycamore is a Witness Tree at Antietam

From Maine at War

April 8, 2026 Brian F. Swartz

If only a tree could talk …

In late afternoon on Wednesday, September 17, 1862 Union infantry from the IX Corps commanded by Maj. Gen. Ambrose Burnside attacked the Confederate-defended Lower Bridge spanning Antietam Creek in Sharpsburg, Maryland. Like similarly constructed bridges located upstream in Washington County, the stone-arched bridge was nothing unusual.

Trees grew along the creek banks adjacent to the bridge. Next to its eastern entrance, literally only a few feet to the north, grew a sycamore, on September 17 a leafed-out sapling perhaps 15 feet tall.

That afternoon Confederate infantry spread along the high ground above the creek’s west bank fired incessantly at the Yankee boys trying to cross the Lower Bridge. Always able to order a charge that he would never lead, Burnside sacrificed a lot of good men before Union troops crossed Antietam Creek via “Burnside Bridge,” as the span became known.

So hot lead flew around the sycamore, which if a tree had ears would have heard the cheering, the gunfire, the screaming, and the dying. The Johnnies withdrew, the Yankees occupied the high ground, and the fighting shifted toward Sharpsburg.

A day or two or three after the battle, Alexander Gardner photographed Burnside Bridge from a spot slightly to the north. The photograph captured the surrounding terrain and trees, including a sycamore growing beside the bridge’s eastern entrance.

That tree became the Burnside Sycamore. Years passed, the land around Burnside Bridge became federal property, and people explored the bridge and the battlefield.

The sycamore grew tall and spread a leafy canopy over the bridge’s eastern entrance. The Antietam periodically flooded, and water swirled around the tree before subsiding. Winters came and went, so did the hot summers, and the years passed.

The Burnside Sycamore stood tall on September 17, 1962, the 100th anniversary of the battle of Antietam. Thunderstorms, high winds, and a hurricane really roughed up Antietam National Battlefield in late summer 2003. The National Park Service reported losing 46 Antietam trees, with some more than a century old. The Burnside Sycamore lost three big limbs that fell and damaged the Burnside Bridge. It was promptly repaired.

The Burnside Sycamore stood tall on September 17, 2012, the battle’s 150th anniversary, which like the centennial observance drew a large crowd to Antietam National Battlefield. Many people who explored Burnside Bridge that day probably did not know the sycamore’s history or notice the small sign identifying the tree.

And the Burnside Sycamore stands today, almost 164 years since the bloodiest one-day battle in American history swept over the hills of Sharpsburg. A “witness tree” to that slaughter, the sycamore has seen much over all those years.

If only a tree could talk …

Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel, Maine at War: Battlefields, Monuments & More

2026 Historical Gettysburg Educational Speakers Series begins April 16

April 9, 2026 by Community Contributors

Historic Gettysburg Adams County (HGAC) will host its Educational Speaker Series at the historic G.A.R. Hall at 53 East Middle Street in Gettysburg, beginning on Thursday, April 16. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and presentations start at 7 p.m. The events are free to the public, no reservations are needed, and the hall is handicapped accessible.

Programs run on the third Thursday of the month.

The first three speakers will be:

–April 16 Thomas Nank, a research assistant with the American Battlefield Trust and a retired U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer will present “From Canada to France: The Story of a Michigan Sailor in the Civil War’s Greatest Sea Battle.”  Come prepared to gain a greater insight into these dramatic and important events involving naval military operations during the Civil War.

–May 21 Ted Hirt, Gettysburg Town Guide, will speak on a number of topics, including the civilian experience at Gettysburg, what happened during the battle at the southern end of the town and the “eight miles from slavery” experience, as well as the seldom seen aspects of Gettysburg.

–June 18 Author Ron Kirkwood will be returning to the G.A.R. hall by special request. Ron has given presentations for HGAC regarding his historical work at the Spangler Farm, as documented in his book Too Much for Human Endurance. In continuing that Spangler saga, Ron will provide details about the rescuers of the wounded and dying, and will speak on “The Women who came to the rescue at the Spangler Farm.”

Stay tuned for HGAC’s fall lineup of speakers. Hope to see you at the hall!

New Visitor Center Exhibits Enhance The Interpretation At Monocacy Battlefield

From National Parks Traveler April 3, 2026

New exhibits at Monocacy National Battlefield in Maryland enhance the visitor's understanding of what transpired at the Civil War-era battlefield.

The interactive exhibits, stories, and artifacts were unveiled at the battlefield's redesigned museum that was dedicated Friday. Through the weekend visitors can discover newly identified artifacts and take part in activities and programs.

“This redesigned museum gives visitors a vivid, human-centered understanding of the Battle of Monocacy and why it still matters today,” said Superintendent Derek Carter. “Here, visitors will encounter the courage, sacrifice, and life-altering decisions that unfolded on this ground in 1864. As our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence, Monocacy stands as a powerful reminder that the American story has always been shaped by ordinary people facing extraordinary moments.”

The exhibits explore the events and personal stories surrounding the Battle of Monocacy, fought on July 9, 1864. A central battle map traces key moments of the fighting, while additional displays examine the experiences of soldiers and civilians, wartime medical care, and the battle’s broader impact on the Civil War. The visitor center is located at 5201 Urbana Pike, Frederick, MD 21704.

We Need YOU to Volunteer for Park Day on Sat April 25th!

This April, we need you. Thousands of volunteers will gather at historic sites across the nation for the American Battlefield Trust’s 30th annual Park Day – and there is time for you to join them.

From battlefields to historic houses to museums, sites in 27 states and the District of Columbia are preparing for a day of hands-on stewardship. This year carries special meaning: as America approaches its 250th birthday, Park Day offers each of us a direct role in preserving the places we love.

CLICK HERE to search our list of participating Park Day 2026 volunteer sites.

Park Day 2026 falls during Earth Week and National Volunteer Week, alongside the America Gives initiative, making this one of the most impactful single days for volunteerism. More than 110 sites across the country are participating. Whether you are part of a scout troop, a veteran's organization, a local historical society, or are simply a citizen who cares, your participation will help ensure these sites remain pristine and accessible for all.

For a complete list of participating Park Day sites and more information, visit our Park Day webpage. Volunteers can share their Park Day participation on social media using #ParkDay2026.

If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to us at  cgrubbs@battlefields.org.

Learn More & Find a Park Day Volunteer Site Near You

Fox 43 story on Trade school students aid Gettysburg battlefield preservation following last year's damage

FOX 43 - Author: Ian Thompson

Published: April 3, 2026

Click Here to see original story

GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Gettysburg National Military Park recently welcomed trade school students as part of preservation efforts near Devil's Den. 

According to park officials, students from the Williamson College of the Trades assisted with stonework rehabilitation, including correcting existing damage, stabilizing the wall — as well as setting capstones and repointing mortar. 

"These improvements contribute to the long-term stability and preservation of this nationally significant cultural landscape," officials said. "Not only did the Williamson College students advance critical maintenance needs here at the park, but they also gained valuable, real-world experience in historic preservation techniques."