Each year the Gettysburg Anniversary Committee, local organizers of the Annual Gettysburg Reenactment, choose several community and preservation causes and support these organizations with a portion of the proceeds from the event.   Some of the past beneficiary’s have included Seminary Ridge Historic Preservation, NPS Cannon Restoration, Friends of the National Parks at Gettysburg, The Civil War Trust, Brandy Station Battlefield, The National Historic Trust for preservation of the Tillie Pierce House, the Lincoln Train Station, Marine Sgt. Eric McColley scholarship fund and The Wounded Warrior Support Fund.

The Gettysburg Anniversary Committee is very proud this year to announce its support of five very worthy organizations. The presentations were made on August 25^th by GAC principals George Lomas, Tony Strickland & Randy Phiel at the historic Schmucker Hall on the Gettysburg Lutheran Theological campus.

 The 2009 beneficiary’s are the Adams County Historical Society, Land Conservancy of Adams County, and the Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association for the Daniel Lady Farm, Main Street Gettysburg and Hope for the Warriors Program.

 The Adams County Historical Society, located in Schmucker Hall on the Lutheran Seminary campus, plays a significant role in preserving Adams County History and offering research opportunities for visitors, students and historians utilizing paid and volunteer staff. Main Street Gettysburg is a non-profit organization committed to the preservation and revitalization of historic Gettysburg for the benefit of the citizens, businesses and visitors. In addition to preparing for the Gettysburg Sesquicentennial Celebration, two of their projects have included the David Wills House and the Steinwehr Avenue Revitalization Program. The mission of Hope For The Warrior is to enhance the quality of life for US service members nationwide and their families who have been adversely affected by injury or death. Several service members involved in the program visited the Patriotic Area at this year’s event. The Patriotic Tent was staffed by community members with donations being received for the program and appreciation banners being signed and sent to our combat troops in the Middle East.  Land Conservancy of Adams County is a member supported nonprofit land trust with over 600 members and the noble mission of preserving the rural lands and character of Adams County. The Conservancy holds over 95 easements covering over 6,000 acres. The Gettysburg Battlefield Preservation Association has been in the process of preserving and restoring the historic, civil war era, Daniel Lady Farm on Hanover Road for several years.

 All of these organizations do a wonderful job of improving our community and quality of life working with very limited budgets.  Financial and volunteer support is needed and appreciated by all these worthy organizations. The beneficiary’s of next year’s July 2 through 5th, 147^TH Gettysburg Reenactment, will be announced on January 1, 2010.