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ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED BATTLEFIELD GUIDES Battlefield Vol. 31, No. 3 Sesquicentennial Year of the Battle September 15, 2013 (Credit: John Moore/Getty Images) 150TH ANNIVERSARY BATTLE OF GETTYSBURG: COMMERCIAL AND SPIRITUAL SUCCESS In this Issue: As the temperatures moderate, and the winds from the northwest have an autumnal 150th Anniversary… Success --------------------- 1 feel to them, Licensed Battlefield Guides can now take a respite during the late August- Legal Notice ----------------------------------------- 2 early September back-to-school lull from the arduous summer campaigning to reflect President’s Report ---------------------------------- 2 Secretary’s Report ---------------------------------- 2 on the battle’s sesquicentennial. Treasurer’s Report ---------------------------------- 3 From this reporter’s view, the ten-day period from 28 June to 7 July was the busiest Membership Notes ---------------------------------- 3 he had seen Gettysburg in the 34 years residing in the area. Not one, but two LBG Cemetery Walks ------------------------------ 3 reenactments being held, local papers and the Gettysburg Travel Council estimated that Emmitsburg Road Fall Cleanup ------------------ 3 ALBG Meeting Notice ------------------------------ 3 some quarter million people were drawn here for the mired of programs and events Feature #1 – Keogh --------------------------------- 4 scheduled and to watch upwards of 10,000 “troops” commemorate the bloody struggle. Feature #2 – 2013 Association Day Trip -------- 4 The week kicked off with a special program held by Meade’s Headquarters that LBG Guide Statistics FY May-July 2013 ------- 5 included country singer Trace Adkins and historian Doris Kerns Goodwin, some guides at that event felt her speech did not fit in with the spirit of the occasion. Minutes after Superintendent Bob Kirby referred to the sesquicentennial as a commemoration; Ms. Goodwin used the descriptive word “celebration” in the same context. To this writer, probably the most inspiring site was the “recreation” of Pickett’s Charge on 3 July. It brought a tear to my eyes. ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED BATTLEFIELD GUIDES Battlefield Dispatch Vol. 31, No. 2 Kudos should go to those few guides that decided to work during the 10-day event including yours truly. It sure was a labor of love for those to brave the humungous traffic jams, or as I have described it, “the conga lines” rhythmically pulsating down the park avenues and the main streets of Gettysburg. Those guides had to be creative to lead their parties around the field in the allotted two or three-hour tours. Then, the following week Gettysburg was invaded for Bike Week and Boy Scouts attending their jamboree in West Virginia. Legal Notice The ALBG website and the written newsletter known as the Battlefield Dispatch are the only official communication vehicles of the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides. Any officially sanctioned document, publication, class material, class schedule, field presentation schedules and communications - public and private - contained in these communication vehicles are copyrighted for the exclusive use of the ALBG and its members. Any unauthorized use of said materials for any reason without the specific written permission of the Executive Council of the Association of Licensed Battlefield Guides is strictly prohibited. PRESIDENT’S REPORT Finally after the weekend re-enactment, - no there was no Kurt Anschuetz finality at this point. Just as the town experienced the aftermath It has been quite a summer, one we will not soon forget. of battle, we continued to experience an influx of visitors. In retrospect, I find myself thinking of that time, and this The end of August, we are starting to slow down for a place, 150 years ago. Although the town people of Gettysburg while. I think it would do us well to think of what we have then did not have as much advance notice as we did to this experienced and learned. Just as in the great battle, there are summer’s events, I have a better understanding of how they must some changes in command. Maybe even more changes! NPS have felt. To begin, I must applaud the park and all of the allied Park Ranger Angie Atkinson, has filled Clyde’s position assistance in making the 150th an event to remember. In fact I temporarily. The executive council met with her a few weeks was rather impressed with how well traffic moved and how few ago to discuss transitions. We feel positive steps will be made, and minor the traffic problems were. (I heard horror stories of and we can use this time to grow and work together. We did the “grid locked" at Manassas.) Congratulations to all of you have time to lick our wounds and a few of us met at LBG who worked during the event, a job well done, and thank-you for Winkelman's home after Clyde's service. Thank you John and the team effort! I do not intend to be guiding for the 175th, but I Cheryl! hope the borough does take a second look at the extra people Now we are onto another event. Some of us will be they hired to assist with traffic. travelling to NYC, September 5th to tour the 69th New York As July 1st approached, we were shocked to hear of our Armory. Soon fall and Remembrance Day will arrive. "first casualty," NPS Guide Supervisor Clyde Bell. It does not I think the thing I really learned this summer; I am only re- matter who you may think the first casualty of the battle was - telling the stories of what I have read of other eye-witness now we have an understanding of how that person’s family must accounts of the events of 1863. What did you learn this have felt. Before we could even tend our wounds, July 1st was summer? Did you feel the weight of all the other programs here! going on at one time; did you experience the confusion of what Now the events began to unfold, slowly first, with the you were going to do next? Did you experience that "why" of crowds. Then it was opening day, July 1st at the Seminary Ridge sudden death? Did you learn to have compassion for the Museum. I stood by the cannon placed near the "old Dorm" "wounded?" now Schmucker Hall. I watched it fire; and as the crowds gathered. I felt the sticky humid air. I could not help but to SECRETARY’S REPORT think of those days in 1863 - so many events happening at the Fred Hawthorne same time. The Association did nothing of note since the past Secretary’s The days continued, event after event. I think the climax report. June and August were executive council meeting months came for me during the public recreation of "Pickett’s Charge" - with no pressing business involved. During the short July the bank robbery and car chase, shutting down half the town to business meeting, no items of business were acted upon. nab those culprits! - 2 - ASSOCIATION OF LICENSED BATTLEFIELD GUIDES Battlefield Dispatch Vol. 31, No. 3 If any of you still do not have a LOGON ID to the Member’s Only section on the ALBG website, I strongly TREASURER’S REPORT encourage you to apply for one. We have back issues of the Phil Lechak Battlefield Dispatch online, Meeting Minutes for ALBG For the first Eight Month Period of 2013 the ALBG is in an sessions, and a continuing roster of Motions Passed at meetings excellent financial position. Our 2013 Plan is to spend no more so that we can all know what our Association is doing. than we receive in Revenues, and to this point – after deducting planned expenditures for the remaining four months of this year Phil Lechak [email protected] – we will do exactly that. Most line items on the Revenue Plan are at or near expectations. One notable exception is the Seminar Revenue SPECIAL NOTICE Plan. Both the April Pickett’s Charge offering and the 2013 EMMITSBURG ROAD FALL CLEANUP Tuesday Evening WALKS have been very well attended and have gotten rave reviews. However the ALBG offered a series of 7 One Day Seminars As reported by LBG Don Walters, if you want to th this 150th Anniversary year. To this date only the first one, The assist in the cause, report to the 105 Pennsylvania Civilian Experience, has actually proceeded. We have had to Monument at 5 PM on 23 October. All necessary cancel 5 due to lack of registrations and the last one of the year, accoutrements provided. in November, is in danger of cancellation as well. The September Retreat and Aftermath Seminar is only 50% booked as of the writing of this article. We are a bit puzzled as to SPECIAL NOTICE th why, it may be 150 -itis or Sesquicentennial Burnout. LBG NATIONAL CEMETERY WALKS Our 2013 Financial Plan (Revenue and Expense) is online in LBG John Fuss has sent us a reminder - There are a number the Member’s Only section of the website. A more detailed of open dates for guides to volunteer for the Cemetery walks at Treasurer’s Report is presented at each bimonthly meeting and is 6:00 P.M. included with the Secretary’s minutes of that session. If any member has any questions concerning ALBG finances, please contact me at the email address below. SPECIAL NOTE Phil Lechak [email protected] MEETING ANNOUNCEMENT/REMINDER MEMBERSHIP NOTES The next General Business Session for members of the Phil Lechak ALBG will be at the GAR Hall starting at 6:30 PM on Friday September 20. The Association Day event returned this year after a too There will be discussion followed by a vote on the BY- long hiatus. Thirty six people participated in the bus tour of the LAW changes and the Standing Rules changes that were Brandywine Revolutionary War Battlefield.