Party like it’s 1913

What do you get when you combine 50,000 people, 2,000 cooks and 280 acres of land? The largest combined reunion of Civil War veterans. Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, hosted the event in 1913.

Every surviving, honorably discharged union and confederate veteran was invited. Two battalions of the Fifth United States Infantry and a detachment of the Pennsylvania State Police ensured security.

The veterans visited battlefields and President Wilson spoke to the group on July 4th. Hot weather caused 9,980 veterans to be treated by the medical staff; nine died.

This landmark reunion was a huge success, and veterans of all ages attended. The youngest was 61 and the oldest 112. Reunions of these proportions are rare, yet rewarding. We’d love to hear about your large reunions.

From the USS Callaway Newsletter