Battle of Gettysburg gets Canceled

[poguemahone 0]

June 10, 2003

 

TO: News Media

FROM: Gettysburg Anniversary Committee

 

RE: High Priority - 140th Gettysburg Anniversary Battle Reenactment Rescheduled

 

Due to the record-breaking wet weather in the Northeast from last fall through this spring and concern for the safety and health of the reenactors, spectators, farmers, and the community, and in consultation with Federal Commander, General Dr. David L. Valuska, and Confederate Commander, General James W. Maupin, the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee has made the decision to reschedule the 140th Gettysburg Anniversary Battle Reenactment, originally scheduled for July 4th, 5th, and 6th, 2003.

This decision was reached after extensive consultation with state and local emergency management officials, and after reviewing the extremely wet turf conditions. These conditions make it impossible to access the site, or to finalize preparations for the site and infrastructure necessary for the event. Additionally, the National Weather Service 15-day forecast does not show significant relief from the current conditions. There are few, if any, sites on the east coast that would be capable of handling an event of this scope and size under the current weather conditions. It was determined that the only reasonable, responsible and prudent course of action was to reschedule the event to August 8th, 9th, and 10th, 2003. This decision to reschedule the event was made with serious regard to planning, public safety and protecting the integrity of this much-anticipated and significant national event.

Cumberland Township Chief of Police, Barry Sease stated "given the current weather outlook and current turf conditions, the decision made by the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee Organizers was the right decision for public safety."

Event Operations Director Randy Phiel stated "after analyzing the current weather and turf conditions and looking at the 15 day National Weather forecast it is time to be both practical and pragmatic. Farmers are two weeks from even getting into their fields under absolutely ideal conditions. We owe it to the local community, visitors and reenactors to be realistic and to act responsibly. That is one of the values of having local folks organize this event. We fully understand this will cause significant inconvenience to various individuals but sometimes you just have to play the cards you are dealt and be responsible to all three of these groups. This will still be a very well attended national event by re-scheduling it to August 8th, 9th and 10th.

The principal event landowner, David Redding, has stated that he had never experienced any May and June like this in his 53 years of farming. His 85-year-old uncle who farms nearby confirms he has never experienced this kind of spring in his lifetime. Crop farmers are in an extremely critical situation and are at least several weeks away, under extremely ideal conditions, from being able to access their fields to plant or harvest. There is a serious hay shortage as a result.

Reenactments are not the only weather victim this spring. This abnormal weather pattern has consistently caused canceled events, has waterways overflowing their banks, has flooded basements and has prevented homeowners from mowing their lawns.

The 140th Gettysburg Anniversary Battle Reenactment is highly anticipated with thousands of reenactors from across the country and around the world, extensive pyrotechnics, hundreds of horses, 100 cannons, large living history areas, over 100 sutlers and two major battles each day. The organizers fully understand that this date change may impact individual schedules. As a result, the following information is being provided:

 

· Civil War Heritage Days in Gettysburg are Friday, June 27 thru Sunday July 6, 2003. Check back for details on this ongoing event.

 

· National Park Service Living History activities are ongoing each day. See http://www.nps.gov/gett/index.htm for schedules and details.

 

· Information on additional Gettysburg activities can be found on www.gettysburg.com.

 

· Tickets purchased for this July will be honored for that same day on August 8, 9, & 10.

 

· Visitors not able to reschedule any one day will have that day credited for any day of next year's event on July 2, 3 & 4, 2004. Those persons already having purchased tickets will be sent correspondence with specific instructions.

To insure the widest possible dissemination of this schedule change, this notice is being provided to the media and, the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee web site, www.gettysburgreenactment.com, is also being updated. In addition to media outlets being notified, registered reenactors and advance ticket purchaser's are also being notified by The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee.

We sincerely appreciate your cooperation and understanding as we strive to maintain the integrity of this national event for reenactors, visitors, and the community. Although the event has been rescheduled, The 140TH Gettysburg Battle Anniversary Reenactment remains a significant event of national scope anxiously anticipated by visitors, reenactors, spectators and people of all ages wanting to see those dusty old history books come alive!

 

Sincerely,

The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee

From Gettysburg Re-enacrment website

For those who don't how this works basicly every reenacter, every civil history buff, boy scouts, girl scouts, etc. flocks to Gettysburg to see this thing for 3 days. It is a live, accurate recreation of the 3 day battle done over 3 days, the town goes nuts. It is what the 4th of July is to DC, and Woodstock for History Buffs, its big, we're talking multi-million Dollars here, and they are putting it off till August. People have hotel reservations since at least Febuary. I can tell you that the farmers that have this done on there get a very large percentage of the event and any damage done would have been well covered. Not to mention the reenacters who will not be getting back the $25.00 they have to pay (yes pay), if they don't show up in August. The fields would have been in shape by then, I was out at Little Round Top on Thursday, it was fine. The farm is out in the middle on a wide open, and whos to say in August the farm will be in better shape? Not to mention the heat. This was to be the 140th Anniversy of the battle they have buliding for this all year, now it will be in August, and there is no plans for what to do if it needs to pushed back more. I am so glad I don't for these places in town, i'm sure the phones are ringing off the hook. Just wait, it will be sunny and in the mid-70's on July 4,5,6.

[Klingonmike 0]

Man that sucks they had to re-schedule. I saw the Battle of Gettysburg years ago when I was a teenager (Many years ago :o ) It was a great thing to watch.

[Xeroc 0]

That stinks. :o