Gettysburg 150th Commemoration

The ceremony Sunday afternoon at the White Plains Rural Cemetery exceeded all possible expectations.  Nearly 70 guests braved the heat and oppressive humidity and the threat of thunderstorms.  Michael Bennett, commander of the Dan Sickles SUV Camp, who assembled and programmed the entire commemoration, acted as master of ceremonies and spoke with his usual eloquence, good humor, and aplomb. We were called to attention by a uniformed soldier and bugler and recitation of the pledge of allegiance. Then followed talks delivered by Michael and me intending to convey the importance of Gettysburg in our American narrative and to tell the stories of Westchester men who fought there.  A number of local dignitaries delivered appropriate and informed comments and each expressed the resonance that the story of Gettysburg had for their own lives.  We appreciated the attendance and remarks from State Senators Andrea Stewart-Cousins and George Latimer, Assemblyman David Buchwald, county Legislator Bill Ryan, White Plains City Councilor Milagros Lecuona, and an official from the New York Division of Veterans Affairs.  There were several special moments, including a beautiful rendition  of the Star Spangled Banner and a very moving reading of the Gettysburg Address by three White Plains school children (who patiently tolerated the entire event before taking their turn). The hour+ concluded with the bugler playing taps as three descendants of Civil War soldiers laid a wreath on the GAR monument. A special surprise was the attendance of Theodore F. Flandreau V whose direct ancestor, Theodore F. Flandreau fought at Gettysburg and lived at various times in Greenburgh.  It was truly a remarkable and meaningful afternoon.