GETTYSBURG - The Pennsylvania Department of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War held its 133rd encampment at the Eisenhower Hotel and Conference Center in Gettysburg from June 27 to 30. The encampment corresponded with the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg from July 1 to 3.
Other Allied Orders of the Grand Army of the Republic holding encampments were the 130th for the Auxiliary to the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War and the 100th for the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War 1861-1865.
On June 29, a service was held at the Eternal Light Peace Memorial on the 75th anniversary of its dedication and for the 150th anniversary of the battle. The keynote address was delivered by Major General Anthony A. Cucolo III, Commandant of the U.S. Army War College.
Other remarks were made by Robert Kirby, superintendent of Gettysburg National Military Park, and U.S. Congressman Scott Perry. Following the presentation of wreaths, a rifle salute was made by the 3rd Infantry Old Guard, and "Taps" were sounded by Ivan Frantz. Charles E. Kuhn Jr. served as master of ceremony.
"Bud" Atkinson was a featured guest at the ceremony. During the dedication of the memorial in 1938. Atkinson was a Boy Scout and served as an escort for Civil War veterans.
The Pennsylvania Department also presented a check for $500 to Kirby for the restoration of the 72nd Pennsylvania Infantry Monument on the battlefield, which was damaged during a recent storm.
Fifty-four delegates from 15 camps attended the encampment. Local representatives attending were David Berezovske, James A. Garfield Camp No. 34, Mount Carmel; Anthony Kline, Greg Kline and Ken Snook, of General J.P.S. Gobin Camp No. 503, Sunbury, and Dorothy Kline and Linda Snoop, of Camp No. 503 Auxiliary.
The Gobin Camp was the recipient of the Donald J. Rosenberg Award for greatest number of new members during the past year.