Dedication Day at Gettysburg
2 min read
The Celebration of Our Fallen Soldiers
By: Joseph Kachur
Dedication day is the day the people of Gettysburg Pennsylvania gather at the soldier’s national cemetery to honor our fallen soldiers from the battle of Gettysburg. When people go to praise their fallen soldiers, the cemetery has all sorts of things planned for all. The Gettysburg cemetery has many fallen soldiers buried in its soil, so to cut down the time some spots in the cemetery hold a joint remembrance. Where they honor a small or large group of soldiers instead of everyone going to honor one at a time.
Dedication day was held on November 19, 1863, when President Abraham Lincoln had given his speech at noon to praise the fallen soldiers. He rose to deliver a speech, which is now known as “the Gettysburg address.” In President Lincoln’s speech Lincoln memorialized the Union dead and highlighted the redemptive power of their sacrifice. He also honored “the men who had fought and died in the battle of Gettysburg to preserve the union.”
For dedication day the Gettysburg cemetery lights a candle on all 3,512 civil war soldiers, and all the names of the fallen soldiers are read off at a ceremony. Dedication day is held on November 19th, from 10:15AM to 5:00PM. The Gettysburg parade starts at 2:00PM at Lefever street in Gettysburg. When interviewed Mitchell Burke said he would not mind going to the cemetery’s dedication day, but would not attend it this year. Also, when interviewed Carson Unger said he would like to attend the dedication day, but would not be-able to make it this year as well. Though Carson said he has gone several times in the past.
This year, the ceremony will continue as the 160th anniversary at the Gettysburg cemetery, to honor our fallen soldiers again from the battle of Gettysburg.
