Anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address
November 20, 2021
24 soldiers and 11 Civilians of the 69th Pa gathered at Gettysburg on Saturday November 20th to participate in the annual Remembrance Day activities. The morning started early with our regimental assembly and march to the National Cemetery. The evening before the 69th band had played at the Reliance Mine Saloon to a large crowd. The morning ceremonies focused on the lives and sacrifices of the 21 69th soldiers who died and were buried at the National Cemetery and the exchange of bronze medallions bearing their names. A solemn placement of boxwood on their graves and a reading of their life story focused the attention of the participants on their sacrifice.
The regiment next marched to the 69th Regimental Monument at the wall and copse of trees for our annual ceremony. Here we rededicated ourselves to the history and honor of the “Irish Volunteers” 1861-1865. This year we honored Company B with a roll call of its 37 members who fought at the wall, each soldier in attendance holding an individual soldier bio card for the roll call. Words were spoke by a number of 69th members and the assembled regiment was informed by Captain Scott Eller that he would be retiring, promoting Michael Ernsberger to the rank of 1st Lieutenant in his place. Formal election of all Ranks will occur in the upcoming annual meeting. A round of “huzzahs” greeted both men. The regiment marched in the annual “Remembrance Day Parade on the streets of Gettysburg.
