H-2 '61 Classmates; plus other Grads and wives, attended a full week of activities at the '61 H-2 Gettysburg Mini-Reunion held at The Gettysburg Hotel, Monday, October 19  thru  Friday, October 23. 

Thirty-two (32) attendees participated in five (5) days of activities: Alice & Bren Battle ; Maggie & Ed Moritz ; Nancy & Dave Teal ; Bob Chelberg ; Ruth & Bob Kee ; Chuck & Sandee Sollohub ; Chip & Sally Smith ; Stu & Louise Senneff ; Jim & Dolly Stokes ; JB & Sally Taylor ; Jerry & Connie Zingsheim ; Petie ( Sandy ) Walters; Pat & Bruce Shroyer ; Andy & Cheryl Carron ( ‘60 H-2) ; Kim Fox (G-2) ; Pam & Dan Barney (K-1) ; Bunny & Chuck Armstrong (L-1) ; Jack Zimmerman (A-2).

All gathered for a welcoming reception and dinner Monday evening, Oct 19, which was concluded by a visit and discussion with  Pvt Charles Wright, Veteran of the 8^th Ohio Volunteer Regiment of Infantry  who saw action from 1861 until mustered out in 1864.   Pvt Wright was accompanied by his wife, Karen.  The 8^th Ohio defended against the left flank attack of Pickett’s Charge on July 3, 1863.

Monday Evening - 8th Ohio Regiment of Volunteer Infantry Pvt Charles & Mrs Wright (center)  (Left Side/L-R) Bren Battle, Bob Kee, Ed Moritz, Stu Senneff, Chip Smith, Andy Carron (‘60/H-2), Bruce Shroyer  (Right Side/R-L)  Jim Stokes, Dave Teal, Bob Chelberg, Jerry Zingsheim, Chuck Sollohub, JB Taylor

Early Tuesday morning, Oct 20, members of H-2 traveled by bus to Antietam Battlefield, receiving a briefing enroute from Charlie Fennells, our Licensed Battlefield Guide; and viewed a film regarding the Battle of South Mountain; Lincoln’s difficulties with his Commanders leading The Army of the Potomac; and his decision to issue the Emancipation Proclamation.

After a box lunch in the Visitor’s Center area, Charlie provided a robust and enthusiastic tour of this very famous Battlefield; and it could not have been done any better.  After leaving the Antietam Battlefield, we drove to The Old South Mountain Inn just outside of  Boonsboro, MD, for dinner; truly the ‘taste delight’ of the entire reunion.  Everyone should visit The Old South Mountain for dinner at least once in their life.

Wednesday, Oct 21 was a free day during which everyone took time to separately visit numerous stores and sights of interest throughout Gettysburg, including the Gettysburg Battlefield Visitors’ Center, certainly a “must see” if you have not been to Gettysburg in the last 3-4 years.   The Eisenhower Farm; numerous antique stores, offering military collectibles and memorabilia;  Boyd’s Bears & Hares … and any number of good restaurants, all seemed to fit into a seamless morning and afternoon where everyone “did their own thing”, individually or in small groups.   The highlight of Wednesday was an after-dinner visit by President Abraham Lincoln who shared his thoughts on his yet unsuccessful effort to find a “fighting General” for The Army of the Potomac.  Before departing the Gettysburg Hotel, President Lincoln, a very affable and courteous man, spoke with everyone present and stood for official photographs with H-2 dinner guests.  It was a grand evening; and greatly appreciated, since he had to rise a bit early the next morning in order to speak at an official commemoration ceremony at the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Thursday, Oct 22  saw everyone in H-2  touring the Gettysburg Battlefield for the entire day.   In the morning, our Licensed Battlefield Guide:  Chris Rebmann ( AKA  Pvt Charles Wright; 8^th Ohio Volunteer Regiment of Infantry ) covered the first day’s action on July 1, 1863.   At midday we broke for lunch at  Gettysburg Eddies, a very convenient and efficiently staffed restaurant, offering a very good luncheon menu.  The afternoon session then covered  late July 2 and July 3 action.  Throughout the day, Chris detailed the opposing Confederate and Union forces; their order of battle; Generals, Field and Line Officers at all command levels; and their individual unit actions at Gettysburg; and, particularly, including those commanded by members of the May and June Classes of 1861.  The day, a total success, was concluded with a formal reception hosted by and in The Mort Kunstler Art Gallery directly adjacent to the Gettysburg Hotel; followed by dinner at the Blue Parrot Bistro; again, offering an excellent menu. 

Friday, Oct 23  saw everyone leaving by 11:00 am …  just before the rain came in Friday afternoon thru Saturday morning.  The Lord was good to us.  It was a perfect “leaf-peeking” week; and H-2 was  “… on the receiving end.” HOORAH !  HOORAH !  HOORAH !

Click here for pictures taken at the Mini-reunion