This December a group of Scouts from Troop 581 traveled to Gettysburg, PA to visit Gettysburg National Military Park. In July 1853, Union and Confederate armies fought a pivotal 3-day battle that turned the tide of the war for Union forces. Later, President Lincoln would give his Gettysburg Address on this hallowed ground. Now a National Battlefield, Gettysburg draws thousands of visitors each year. Troop 581 was lucky enough to have an experienced guide who gave the visiting Scouts a custom tour of the battlefield.
The Troop stayed near the battlefield at BSA’s Camp Conewago in the new Birth of Freedom Council. The camp is located at the “Forks” where the Little Conewago enters the Big Conewago stream. It was formerly at the point of a trader’s cabin where the collection of furs and trading was done with early settlers and the Conewago Indian Tribes in the area.
After breakfast on Saturday morning, the tour began with a stop at the visitor center where the Scouts watched the movie “A New Birth of Freedom” that provided an overview of the battle and gave some context to some of the sites they would visit. They then spent the day touring the battlefield.
In the Gettysburg Address, President Lincoln said, “The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.” If you are looking for somewhere to visit, Troop 581 highly recommends a visit to the Gettysburg Battlefield.