Few American landscapes carry the weight of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. In three July days in 1863, more than 50,000 men were killed, wounded, or went missing on a battlefield that measured only a few miles across. The ground they fought on was purchased, preserved, and dedicated by Lincoln four months later in a speech of 272 words that redefined the meaning of the American experiment. One hundred and fifty years after that battle and that address, the Congressional Medal of Honor Society chose Gettysburg as the site of its 2013 convention — a choice that connects the nation’s highest military honor to the defining sacrifice of the Civil War and, through the Gettysburg Address itself, to the ideals that sacrifice was meant to protect.
The Medal of Honor and Its History
Congress created the Medal of Honor in 1861, initially for Navy enlisted personnel and shortly thereafter for Army soldiers as well. It is the highest military decoration awarded by the United States government and is presented by the President in the name of Congress to members of the armed forces who have distinguished themselves by conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and beyond the call of duty.
Approximately 3,500 Medals of Honor have been awarded since the Civil War. The standards for the award have been revised several times, and a formal review process has ensured that the decoration retains its exceptional character. Living recipients — a small and diminishing group as veterans of the Korean War and Vietnam era age — are among the most respected figures in American military culture.
The Congressional Medal of Honor Society, founded in 1958, brings together living recipients for educational programs, outreach to military and youth communities, and public commemorations. The Society’s annual conventions rotate through venues of historical and patriotic significance, and Gettysburg during the sesquicentennial year was a natural choice.
The 150th Anniversary Commemorations at Gettysburg
The summer and fall of 2013 marked the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg (July 1–3, 1863) and, in November, of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address. The sesquicentennial brought commemorations, academic conferences, living history events, and public programs to the battlefield throughout the year.
Gettysburg National Military Park invested significantly in the anniversary programming, including expanded ranger-led tours of the battlefield, special exhibitions at the Museum and Visitor Center, and coordination with the town’s reenactment community for the largest organized events. The High Water Mark of the Confederacy — Pickett’s Charge and the repulse at Cemetery Ridge — received particular interpretive attention as the tactical moment that sealed the battle’s outcome.
The Gettysburg Address anniversary in November drew national figures to Cemetery Ridge, where the speech was delivered in the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery. The cemetery remains an active burial site for veterans and a moving destination within the broader battlefield landscape.
Eisenhower National Historic Site
Immediately adjacent to Gettysburg is Eisenhower National Historic Site, the home and farm of Dwight D. Eisenhower — the five-star general who commanded Allied forces in Europe in World War II and later served two terms as President of the United States. Eisenhower purchased the Gettysburg farm in 1950, and it served as his retreat during his presidency and permanent home after 1961.
The connection between the Eisenhower site and the Gettysburg battlefield is not merely geographic. Eisenhower was deeply conscious of Gettysburg’s historical significance and frequently brought visiting heads of state to see the battlefield during his presidency — including Soviet Premier Nikita Khrushchev in 1959, a meeting intended to demonstrate American confidence and historical groundedness during the Cold War. The proximity of the two sites makes them natural companions for a full visit to the Gettysburg area.
What Visitors Can Experience Today
The Gettysburg Museum and Visitor Center, opened in 2008, presents the full narrative of the battle through an extensive artifact collection, interactive exhibits, and the restored Gettysburg Cyclorama — a 360-degree painting depicting Pickett’s Charge that is among the largest paintings in the United States. The center also manages tour licenses for battlefield guides; a Licensed Battlefield Guide in a private vehicle remains the most in-depth way to experience the field.
Auto tours, cycling routes, and walking trails connect the main battle positions across the preserved landscape. The Little Round Top, the Peach Orchard, Seminary Ridge, and Cemetery Ridge all offer accessible ground-level perspectives on terrain that shaped the battle’s outcome.
For broader exploration of Civil War and American history parks, see the /parks/Gettysburg-National-Military-Park/ visitor guide and the park-news section.