Potus Geeks Photo: Woodrow Wilson at the 50th Anniversary of Gettysburg
A century ago, Woodrow Wilson was a part of celebrations commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. President Wilson, a son of Virginia, and a man who claimed to have met Robert E. Lee when he was a child, commemorated this famous battle with his July 4, 1913 Gettysburg Reunion Address by saying: “We have found one another again as brothers and comrades in arms, enemies no longer, generous friends rather, our battles long past, the quarrel forgotten—except that we shall not forget the splendid valor.”
From June 29 to July 4, 1913, 53,407 Confederate and Union Veterans of the War Between the States came to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania for a Reunion and encampment. Veterans came from 47 of the 48 states of the Union. It was the largest combined reunion of War Between the States Veterans. The youngest Veteran was reported to be 61 and the oldest was 112. The United States and Confederate flags flew side by side at the Gettysburg soldier’s reunion of men who had been enemies on the field of battle. The State of Pennsylvania hosted the 1913 reunion at the suggestion of state Governor John K. Tener. Tener also encouraged other states to arrange rail transportation for the participants. Down South in Dixie, the United Daughters of the Confederacy helped raise money for the transportation and uniforms for their Confederate Veterans. The hosts did not count on Black Confederates attending the meeting and had no place to put them but in a surprising gesture for the times, the White Confederates made room for the African-American Confederate soldiers. African-American Union veterans also attended this event.
Nearly 700,000 meals were served that included fried chicken, roast pork sandwiches, ice cream and Georgia watermelon. The temperature soared to 100 degrees and almost 10,000 veterans were treated for heat exhaustion and several hundred more were hospitalized. The United States Army was also present in support. A highlight of the reunion was the Confederate Veterans walk on the path of Gen. George Pickett’s charge that was greeted, this time, by a handshake from the Union Veterans.
