The
Franklin County
MILITARY
Trail of History A Self Guided Tour
Take a journey through the trail of Franklin County’s military history..... The Franklin County Veterans Memorial Park and Military Trail is a vision ten years in the making. So many Americans are touched by military history, be it through the service of a parent, the loss of a loved one, or the recognition of valor. Military history is the blueprint of America’s history, and it is certainly true in Franklin County. From the pre-Revolutionary War to the recent wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, Franklin County has many stories of its military men and women’s contributions to the nation. These important stories are the fiber of American character. They are an essential part of American heritage, and they pay tribute to the people who secured and protected America. Franklin County honors veterans every day of the year with the Franklin County Military Trail of History.
Along the way, hear local veterans stories of service and sacrifices for our country....
Letterkenny Army Depot 2171 Carbaugh Avenue, Chambersburg, Pa 17201 The directive to establish an ordinance depot in Franklin County was issued by Secretary of War, Henry L. Stinson on December 18, 1941. This allowed the federal government to acquire 21,000 acres of land in Letterkenny Township for use as ammunition storage.
kenny Army Depot. When the Vietnam War began, work increased as the workers of the depot supported our troops.
Construction crews built 798 underground igloos, 17 warehouses and 12 above- ground magazines on the property that became known as the Letterkenny Ordinance Depot. The first shipment of ammunition arrived by railroad on September 23, 1942. Throughout the war years, more than three million tons of supplies were moved to the facility. The depot became one of the largest depots of its kind. With so many men called into the service of their country, women, and 1,200 Italian prisoners of war became the primary workforce. Letterkenny was called the Springboard of the invasion of 1944. In the 1950s the depot mission became a peaceful one. Enormous amounts of vehicles and unused ammunition were returned to Letterkenny. By the time of the Korean War, the workforce reached over 6,500. By July 1, 1954, the depot officially was named a permanent military installation. In 1962, the depot was renamed the Letter-
During the 1970s and 1980s the depot evolved with new missions including being the headquarters of the U.S. Army Depot System Command and became the place for the army to store war reserve stock. Letterkenny became the single largest repair center for the HAWK system. Projects involving the Sparrow and Sidewinder missiles were assigned to the depot. In the 1990s, Letterkenny became the center for all Tactical Missile Systems for the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. In 2001 the depot was recognized as the Center for Industrial and Technical Excellence for Air Defense and Tactical Missile Ground Support Equipment and also for the Mobile Electric Power Generation Equipment. The depot received eight Shingo Prize awards starting in 2005 for excellent work in various systems. The depot celebrated its 70th anniversary in 2012. It is the largest employer of Franklin County with 3,600 employees and pours over a quarter of a billion dollars into the local economy annually.
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Letterkenny Chapel 2171 Carbaugh Avenue, Chambersburg, Pa 17201 Seventy years after the end of World War II, Franklin County’s Historic Letterkenny Chapel and Franklin County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial Park remembered the contributions of the Italian Prisoners of War stationed at Letterkenny Depot. These men were captured as prisoners of war and then swore allegiance to America. Letterkenny Depot housed 1250 of these men in a service unit, later formed as the 321st Quartermaster Battalion. They spent seventeen months at Letterkenny Depot until returning to Italy in October 1945 after an international agreement was reached. Before America entered World War II, the U.S. military sought locations for ordinance depots to maintain, store, and issue weapons, ammunition, combat vehicles, equipment, and other military-needed materials. Letterkenny Township in Franklin County PA was selected because of its excellent location along the Atlantic seaboard and its closeness to Washington DC. The depot required thousands of acres of farmland and displaced about 1000 of Franklin County’s 70,000 residents. Any discontentment about the acquisition ceased after the December 7, 1941 strike on Pearl Harbor. Franklin County residents wholeheartedly supported the depot. Less than a year later, the depot was an active part of America’s participation in the Ally effort. By September 1943, Italy signed an armistice with the Allies, and Italian POWs agreed to sign an allegiance to the United States, In May 1944, 1250 repatriated Italian soldiers came to Letterkenny Depot. They formed the 321st Quartermaster Battalion, helping to order, stock, and ship military supplies and equipment to support the Ally efforts in the Pacific and Europe. These men missed their homes and loved ones. It was a difficult time. They turned to their faith to guide them, seeking out the counsel of clergy, who wisely suggested channeling the loneliness into beneficial tasks. Out of a melancholy and somber time when war encircled the world and thousands of miles separated the Italian service men from their families, a good and lasting accomplishment emerged. The repatriated soldiers helped to build the depot and a chapel. By using the materials from the farmhouses, barns, and other structures, the men of the ISU incorporated the elements of their homeland into the chapel and created a lasting artifact of a significant time in American and world history. In 1945, Letterkenny Chapel was dedicated by the Pope’s Ambassador to the United States to commemorate peace and reconciliation between Italy and the United States. For more than 35 years, it served as a military chapel for Letterkenny Army Depot. Today, the historic chapel serves as an ecumenical, interfaith and multicultural meeting place of fellowship and worship. The Letterkenny Chapel is a prime representation of Italianate architecture with the characteristic square tower, quoined brickwork, and curved arches above the windows and doors. Today, it is maintained by the United Churches of Chambersburg and is adjoined by the Franklin County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial Park. The chapel and park are the launching point of the Franklin County Military Trail of History. Each year, four services are held at Letterkenny Chapel— Armed Forces and POW/MIA Day Service in May, the 9/11 Remembrance Service in September, Veterans Day Service in November, and Christmas Eve Service in December.
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Franklin County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial Park Adjacent to 2171 Carbaugh Avenue, Chambersburg, Pa 17201 In October 2011, ground was broken for the Franklin County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial Park. On May 19, 2012 (Armed Forces Day), the county memorial was dedicated by the First Counselor to the Apostolic Nuncio, the Vatican’s Ambassador to the United States, just as was done by the Apostolic Nuncio for the military Chapel in 1945. The United Churches of the Chambersburg Area developed the memorial park as a place for reflection and remembrance, to memorialize all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001, and to pay tribute to Franklin County Veterans and First Responders.
brochures and photographs of this project. The vision of the Franklin County Veteran’s Memorial for the veterans of all wars was originally developed by the late Senator Pennsylvania Terry Punt.
NEXT SITE: ROCKY SPRING PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH & GRAVEYARD Head north on Overcash Avenue and turn left unto Coffey Avenue and continue onto Letterkenny Road. Turn left onto Funk Road and then turn left onto Rocky Spring Road.
The 2,000 pound sculpture, designed by local artist Michael Fisher and fabricated by Sunset Metal Works, points to the heavens. The memorial itself is made from three steel beams salvaged from the World Trade Center. A time capsule in the ground at this site contains dust from Ground Zero. Also contained in the time capsule are descriptive writings and maps from the 9/11 attacks,
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Army Air Corp Chief Clerk Sam Worley Lives in: Chambersburg Age:95 Served: In Army Air Corps From 1942-1945 Worley visiting the ladies of the Franklin County Visitors Bureau
Born in Fannettsburg, Sam Worley said he was a real “country boy” and wasn’t prepared for the craziness that would fall when he was drafted for World War II in September of 1942. Worley said it was a somber time but people were united and wanted to do their part. “I was with between 32 and 39 men or so and we came into Chambersburg and then we went to Fort Mead,” he said. “We went through the induction process and had interviews for what we might qualify for.” With a strong preference for the Air Force, he was chosen to do five weeks of basic training in Georgia and then did time at the 10th Fighter Wing Headquarters in Tampa, Florida. “I wanted to enter the cadets,” Worley said. “But I was told that the unit I was in was going to be shipped overseas.” Sam also was stationed near Long Island, New York and in Boston before being sent overseas to England to work in intelligence. “We had the highest levels of security,” Worley said, stating that the group he was with would decode messages and relay them, as well as send counter reports. Much of the work he did is still
classified, he said, but he said it was important work. “We used to joke that during our work, we could hear a fly a mile away,” he said. Worley said he also remembers D-Day when he was in England. “Every plane in the 8th Fighter Command was off the ground. I haven’t seen so many planes in the air and I haven’t seen that many since.” Through his service, Worley said he still feels the men with their “boots on the ground” deserve his respect. “I take my hat off to the real soldiers of the war,” Worley said. “They were absolutely unbelievable.” His service, he said, was different than others but still felt like he had served the greater good. “It was 3 of the best years of my life,” he said. “I served my country and would serve again.”
children. “I went to school and got a degree in banking,” he said. He then worked in a local bank for 35 years, served as Chairman of the Franklin County Commissioners for 8 years and served Chambersburg as its Mayor. “This town has been so wonderful to me,” he said. “This really is the Queen City of the Cumberland Valley.” Worley is still involved in the local community, including Chambersburg Kiwanis Club and as the Chairman of the Past Presidents of the State Association of Borough’s, where he recently received the President’s Award for Lifetime Achivement. He also continues his love of travel and love of planes. Despite all he’s done, he said there is one little thing he never did get to do when he was younger.
After returning home, Worley said he “I never did get to go back to cadet had a warm reception in the Chamschool,” he said, laughing. bersburg area, y where he Sam Worle itary settled rk in Mil e l C f e i h C down ce of ntelligen I and got ing, Fighter W h t 7 6 d, married er Comman 8th Fight and Air Force 8th Army had two
Rocky Spring Presbyterian Church & Graveyard 1963 Rocky Spring Road Chambersburg, Pa 17201 This church may have been one of the most patriotic congregations in the valley. At the outset of the American Revolution, church pastor Rev. John Craighead delivered an inspirational sermon, and all but one or two of the adult men in the congregation marched off to join the Revolutionary War. According to the church’s history, their congregation produced one general, four colonels, twelve captains, and a like number of officers in the Continental Army. Craighead is buried in the church cemetery as is General Samuel Culbertson, a veteran of the Revolutionary War. The congregation was established in 1738 and was made up mostly of Scots-Irish immigrants. The church building was constructed in the summer of 1794.
NEXT SITE: CEDAR GROVE CEMETERY
Head south toward Letterkenny Road. Turn right on Letterkenny Road. Slight left on Edenville Road. Slight right unto North Franklin Street. Cemetery is on the left.
FAST FACT: Molly Cochran Corbin, the first woman to receive a military pension and the only Revolutionary soldier to be buried at West Point with honors, was born in Franklin County. She accompanied her husband to the Revolutionary War. When he was fatally wounded at the Battle of Fort Washington, she took over firing his cannon. Her birthplace is on Letterkenny Road West, opposite the site of the Cumberland Valley Animal Shelter.
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Cedar Grove Cemetery 130 N. Franklin Street, Chambersburg, Pa 17201 Cedar Grove Cemetery came into existence in 1855. The 22-acre-cemetery falls within the boundaries of the Borough of Chambersburg and has specific notable military connections as well as being the final resting place of many of our nation’s veterans. Residents of Chambersburg during the July 30, 1864 Confederate burning of Chambersburg fled to Cedar Grove Cemetery as Confederates torched their homes and waited until the raiders retreated to assess their losses. Following the Battle of Antietam on September 17, 1862, nearly 21,000 Americans were wounded or died. Hospitals were set-up in Sharpsburg and neighboring communities. Wounded were transported to Chambersburg by rail, and three makeshift hospitals were set up in the town. Just past the main gate of Cedar Grove Cemetery are two rows of the graves of the men who did not survive. More than half of these soldiers are unknown. Their graves simply say U.S. Soldier and serve as a reminder that Antietam remains the battle claiming the most American lives in any one-day period. In Chambersburg, the GREATMOMENTS MOMENTS││www.explorefranklincountypa.com www.explorefranklincountypa.com 88││GREAT
Grand Army of the Republic Post 309 was named after Peter Housum, who was a Chambersburg resident, killed in action on December 31, 1862 during the Battle of Stones River. He was a Lieutenant Colonel in the 77th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry. At home, prior to the war, Housum was the partner of Theodore B. Wood in a foundry business named Housum & Wood, which later became T.B. Wood’s Inc. Peter Housum is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery. Another veteran of the Civil War is buried in Cedar Grove Cemetery with her husband. She is Frances “Dolly” Harris Lesher. In mid-June 1863, the invasion of Pennsylvania began, and Confederates were
Above: A reenactor portraying Frances “Dolly” Harris Lesher
moving north through Greencastle. As troops passed by seventeen-year old Dolly’s home on Carlisle Street, she ran into the streets and proudly waved the American flag as she denounced the Confederate soldiers as “traitors to their country, cut throats, and plunderers.” General George Pickett, who led the troops, tipped his hat and saluted Dolly. The band serenaded her with Dixie as it passed. What could have been a dangerous encounter was quelled by General Pickett’s quick thinking. In 1887 during the Gettysburg Reunion, the Harrisburg Telegraph reported the words of Col. Willian Aylett, a member of General Pickett’s troops that witnessed Dolly’s display. He said, “Why the bravest woman I ever saw was a Pennsylvania girl who defied Pickett’s whole division as we marched through the little town called Greencastle. She had a United States flag as an apron which she defiantly waved up and down as our columns passed by her and dared us to take it from her.”
A portrait of Frances “Dolly” Harris Lesher
When Dolly passed away in 1906, she was buried with military honors beside her husband John Lesher, also a veteran. The ceremony was led by the officers of Col. Peter B. Housum Post of the Grand Army of the Republic.
NEXT SITE: FOUNDING FAMILY PARK
Drive on N Franklin Street toward King Street. Turn left unto West King Street (1st cross street). Turn right unto Spring Street into Chambers Fort Park.
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Dr. Paul Orange & his staff would like to thank all veterans past and present for their service to our country.
“The deeds of our past Patriots formed this great nation. We must preserve and not destroy our history for all generations of Americans. -Bailey Noelle Orange Dr. Paul Orange, MD 4225 Lincoln Way East | Fayetteville, PA 17222 (717) 352-3616 | Fax: (717) 352-9013 Seeking to purchase military items, Civil War, and antiques 10 │GREAT MOMENTS│www.explorefranklincountypa.com
Founding Family Park/Chamber’s Fort Along West King Street Chambersburg, Pa 17201 Franklin County was the colonial frontier of America, and the people on the frontier lived with the impacts of the French & Indian War. Following the defeat of British General Braddock in 1755, the French and their Indian allies struck the Pennsylvania frontier. Benjamin Chambers, a ScotsIrish immigrant, had been granted a Blunston License by William Penn. He developed a 400 acre plantation with a gristmill that became the original settlement of Chambersburg, and the first settlement in Franklin County. To protect his home and mills, he erected a stockade with a lead roof to protect the structure from flaming arrows. The fort was adjoined by water on three sides, from Falling Springs and Conococheague Creek, aiding its defense and habitability. A statue on the site called
(This and the next four sites are walking sites.)
“The Homecoming”, depicts the founder of Chambersburg--Benjamin Chamber--his son James, and his grandson Benjamin returning in 1781 from six years of serving in the Continental Army. James Chambers led Chambers Rifles of Thompson’s Rifle Battalion. Benjamin, his son marched with his father to wage war at age eleven. The sculpture was made by Wayne Hyde of Bedford, Pennsylvania. The Fort Chambers Park was dedicated on October 18, 2008. Funding for the Borough of Chambersburg’s park was provided by public and private partnership in cooperation with federal funds. Also of note in Founding Family Park is the memorial to WW II veterans killed in action as well as the Korean War Memorial. Both are located behind “The Homecoming” statue.
NEXT SITE: THOMPSON’S RIFLE BATTALION
Walk toward King Street to the Fort Chambers historic marker.
The Homecoming depicts town founder Benjamin Chambers welcoming son James and grandson Benjamin home after the Revolutionary War. The statue is in the center of the Founding Family Park.
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Thompson’s Rifle Battalion Founding Family Park, off N. Main Street, Chambersburg, Pa. 17021 Marker is across the foot bridge, which spans Falling Spring.
This Pennsylvania historic marker identifies the first company of Franklin County from the Revolutionary War. The Colony of Pennsylvania on June 22, 1775 authorized the raising of riflemen companies from Pennsylvania. This regiment, including a company from Cumberland County (now Franklin County), marched to Massachusetts and was a group of sharpshooters who participated in the Siege of Boston. The regiment was raised by Colonel William Thompson. The local company, Company A, was led by Captain James Chambers of Chambersburg. His company included one captain, three lieutenants, four sergeants, four corporals, a drummer or trumpeter, and sixty-eight privates. It is mentioned in the Military Journal of the Revolution that “these men are remarkable for the accuracy of their aim; striking a mark with great certainty at two hundred yards distance.” On March 11, 1776, these men were re-enlisted into the Continental Army. On July 1, 1776 they were offi-
cially designated as the First Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line. They also saw action at the Battle of Long Island in August 27, 1776. Colonel Thompson was Irish. His family immigrated to Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Thompson was captured on June 8, 1776 at a battle at Trios-Riviéres in Quebec and remained a prisoner of war for four years. James Chambers led the regiment to action at the Battle of Brandywine on September 11, 1777. Chambers commanded the regiment for the remainder of the war. He eventually obtained the rank of Brigadier General. The First Pennsylvania Regiment mustered out of service on November 3, 1783. NEXT SITE: GREEN ASH TREE MEMORIAL Continue walking toward King Street. Ash Tree Memorial on right.
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Green Ash Tree Memorial Adjacent to Chamber’s Fort Marker, Chambersburg, Pa 17201
The Green Ash Tree Memorial is a living tribute to the sixteen million uniformed soldiers of World War II. Each Green Ash is a direct descendant of the Green Ash Tree growing at the birthplace of U. S. President Dwight David Eisenhower in Dennison, Texas. The project is known as “Operation Silent Witness.”
NEXT SITE: MEMORIAL FOUNTAIN & CIVIL WAR SOLDIER From Founding Family Park, walk onto Main Street toward Memorial Square. At the center of Memorial Square is Memorial Fountain.
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Memorial Fountain & Bronze Civil War Soldier Crossroads of Routes 11 & 30 (Memorial Square), Chambersburg, Pa 17201
Memorial Fountain honors the town’s role in Civil War history. The fountain was dedicated on July 17, 1878 to honor more than 5,000 men of Franklin County who served in the Civil War. Included in the fountain memorial is a bronze Union soldier, who guards against future invasions. A memorial marker at the foot of the soldier describes the burning of Chambersburg on July 30, 1864. Confederate soldiers, part of General Jubal Early’s command and led by General John McCausland, demanded
a ransom of $100,000 in gold or $500,000 in Yankee dollars. When town officials were unable to raise the money, the rebels burned 550 buildings in the town. The Ladies and Soldiers Monumental Association, raised money to build the fountain and soldier statue. The statue became a memorial that commemorated a victory on the battlefield while at the same time being placed along the route General Robert E. Lee and his men marched toward infamy at Gettysburg.
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Cannons were added to the memorial in 1883 but removed in 1930. A bronze star in the street south of Memorial Fountain marks the site of the meeting between Generals Robert E. Lee and A.P. Hill. It is here they made the decision to move east toward Gettysburg and intercept the Union troops in the last days of June 1863. The Battle of Gettysburg ensued several days later. Today, Memorial Fountain honors veterans of all American conflicts.
Franklin County Vietnam Veterans Memorial Located on Courthouse Plaza. in Downtown Chambersburg, Pa 17201 Facing the courthouse, it is on the north side of the plaza in front of the Commissioner’s Complex. 3,110 men and women from Franklin County served their country in Vietnam War.
(This concludes the walking sites.)
NEXT SITE: CHAMBERSBURG DOUGHBOY
From North Main Street, continue driving south onto South Main Street. Go one block and turn left onto Queen Street. Continue driving. The Chambersburg Doughboy will be on the left, after passing 4th Street on approach to 6th Street.
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Sergeant First Class John W. Norman Lives in: Greencastle Age:47 Served: In Army from Nov. 1990 to Dec. 2011 (half active duty and half in Army reserves) Norman receiving his Purple Heart medal at Letterkenny Army Depot in 2012. Sgt. 1st Class John Norman wanted something different and exciting after graduating from Chambersburg High School so, he joined the Army. “It was only after we had made it to basic training that I sat back and said, what did I get myself into?” he said, laughing. “But I don’t regret serving my country.” He started working in communications and completed assignments at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, Germany, Noway and Bosnia before joining the 309th Transportation Company reserve unit in Greencastle. Then, September 11 happened. “I couldn’t sit by, I wanted to go and fight the bad guys,” he said. He volunteered to go back into active duty as a Calvary Scout and was deployed into Iraq. His experience in being an EMT, volunteer fire fighter and fire policeman came in handy when he was deployed, he said, and helped him cope with the sights and sounds. “That helped me get through it was having the training as being an EMT and seeing blood before. I think it helped me be able to disconnect
from what I was seeing.” Norman said the life expectancy for a Scout was short. “You were right there in the middle of the action,” he said. “We didn’t expect to come back.” He was injured while on convoy with his unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2004 when an improvised explosive device exploded. “It was about a month before I was scheduled to come home that we were hit,” he said. Along with other awards for his service, he was awarded a Purple Heart to recognize this sacrifice. “It’s the oldest award that is still given out,” he said. “It’s an honor.” Norman was deployed for a second time in January 2006 then returned to the reserves in August 2006 and completed his third and final deployment. He retired with the Headquarter and Headquarters Company, 398th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion on
Dec. 29, 2011. He currently works at Letterkenny Army Depot. After being a soldier, Norman said several things helped him transition back into civilian life. “Staying with the Army in the reserves was good for me,” he said. “It helped me slowly transition back. Everyone needs their own time to get through the things they’ve seen and done.” Norman said he also shares his experiences with schools and does talks about his experience for kids. He also talks to them about lessons he learned while serving the country. “You learn to appreciate everything you have and you appreciate life more after seeing everything,” he said.
lass Sgt. 1st C rman John W. No rs and Headquarte 2D s Company, r e t r a u q d a He 70th Armor Battalion, ne 1st Airbor 0 1 , t n e m i Reg
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Chambersburg Doughboy East Point Memorial, Intersection of East Queen and Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg
The citizens of Franklin County came together on November 12, 1923, during Armistice Day celebrations to dedicate this Spirit of the American Doughboy, one of the pressed copper sculptures by E.M. Viquesney. The memorial was erected to honor the men and women of Franklin County, who served in World War I. The memorial lists 91 names in three columns including four women who served in the nursing corps. The inscription includes the words “Greater love hath no man that this. That a man lay down his life for his friends.” It also says “They shall live forevermore our glorious dead. 19171919 Erected to the memory of the men and women of Franklin County who gave their lives in the Word War.” The Viquesney statue was one of about 120 “Spirit of America Doughboy” statues produced in a Spencer, Indiana factory where the sculptor lived. The artist had taken two years to sculpt the soldier with great attention to detail including a gas mask, a hand grenade, and hobnails in his boots. The seven foot statues with a six foot concrete pedestal were sold for $1,000 and are evident in thirty states. Mr. Viquesney, who died in 1946, said of the memorials “I do not urge the building of War Memorials to perpetuate WAR but to impress on American Youth the desirability of PEACE.”
NEXT SITE: MT VERNON/MT LEBANON CEMETERY
The next site is on Lincoln Way West. Travel west on Route 30. Turn right onto 6th Street. Turn right onto Washington Street. Follow Washington Street to 3rd Street and turn right onto 3rd Street. Turn left onto Lincoln Way/ Route 30 and travel 2 miles.
FAST FACT: Joseph Proctor, of Chambersburg, was a private of Company H of the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry who was captured at James Island, SC in July 1863 and was held in the famous Andersonville Prison. Proctor survived the war and returned to Chambersburg.
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Mt. Vernon/Mt. Lebanon Cemetery Rt. 30 West, opposite the Shop ‘N Save in Chambersburg, Pa 17201 Twenty six black Civil War veterans who fought as members of regiments of the United States Colored Troops (USCT) are buried in this cemetery. Amongst them is Henry Watson (29th Connecticut Colored Infantry) who is known to have arranged the meeting between Frederick Douglass and John Brown in a quarry in Chambersburg on August 19, 1859. The meeting was just prior to Brown’s raid at Harpers Ferry on October 16 that same year. Watson, a free black barber, is also known to have helped fugitive slaves escape as a conductor in the Underground Railroad.
The cemetery was recently designated as a site in the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom Program administered by the National Park Service. That designation provides recognition and certification as well as allowing those caring for the site to apply for matching grants to make improvements to the site. Forty five sites have been so designated in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania including the John Brown/Mary Ritner Boarding House in Chambersburg and the Thaddeus Steven/Caledonia Iron Works in Greene Township.
NEXT SITE: FORT LOUDOUN
Turn left onto Route 30 West and continue 11 miles.Turn left onto Brooklyn Road.
Henry Watson Gravesite
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Fort Loudoun & James Smith & The Black Boys Off Route 30 West on Brooklyn Road, Fort Loudon, Pa 17224
Built as a provincial fort in 1756 by the Second Battalion of the Pennsylvania Regiment under the direction of Colonel John Armstrong, Fort Loudoun was used as a supply base for the Forbes Campaign. It was named Fort Loudoun (one of several in the American colonies) as it was named after John Campbell, 4th Earl of Loudoun. In 1765, the garrison of the fort played a key role in a colonial revolt by James Smith and the Black Boys. This military action centered on trading weapons with the Indians and pre-dated the Revolutionary War by ten years. Called Black Boys because these white settlers of the Conococheague Valley wore blackened faces and were led by James “Black Boy Jimmy” Smith, these raiders used Indian tactics to disrupt British shipments in the valley. Following the Black Boys Rebellion, the British evacuated the fort. Historian Neil Swanson contended that the seeds of unrest of this country against the British were sown at Fort Loudoun. The replica fort that stands on the original site today was constructed in 1993.
FAST FACT: Walter S. Sellers, pharmacist, lost his life in the sinking of the Battleship Maine, February 15, 1898.
NEXT SITE: MERCERSBURG AREA VETERANS MEMORIAL
Go northeast on Brooklyn Road toward Lincoln Way West. Take 1st left onto Lincoln Way West and travel to the intersection of Lincoln Way West and Fort Loudoun Road and turn left on Fort Loudoun Road. Turn right onto Keefer Drive. Monument is on the right.
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Mercersburg Area Veterans Memorial 100 Keefer Drive, Mercersburg, Pa 17236
The Mercersburg Area Veterans Memorial is a life-sized bronze statue of a soldier and the granite memorial honors veterans of all wars. On each face of the base of the monument are the insignias of each branch of military service. The soldier is holding his firearm in his left hand, with his right hand posed on his helmet that rests on another firearm. The memorial was unveiled on 11 a.m. on 11/11/2013 exactly 95 years after the official ending of World War I – that occurred on the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918. Members of the Henry Lackhove American Legion Post 517 conducted the memorial ceremony. A speaker at the service said the new monument would “serve as a tangible reminder of the service and sacrifice of our veterans of our community and surrounding acres.” The project was the brainchild of former post commander Dale Thatcher who also designed the memorial. The cost was $75,000, which was raised through various fundraisers and community FACT: 2,510 men and women support. Also, theFAST soldier statue cost from Franklin County $30,000. The memorial was built by served their country the Korean War. Greencastle Bronze and in Granite.
NEXT SITE: STUART’S HEADQUARTERS Turn right onto PA-416 S/PA-75 and travel 1/2 mile. Turn left onto Buchanan Trail W/N Main Street. Property is on the right.
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Stuart’s Headquarters/ Steiger House/Bridgeside 120 North Main Street, Mercersburg, Pa 17236
On October 10 1862, General J.E.B. Stuart used the Steiger home as a headquarters during his Pennsylvania Raid. On that day Stuart brought 1,800 mounted cavalry into Mercersburg. From this home, Stuart directed the raid of the countryside, capturing over 1,000 horses plus enough uniforms and shoes for 2,000 Confederate soldiers. His raids shocked Pennsylvanians who believed the war was being conducted south of the Mason-Dixon Line. It struck fear into rural Pennsylvanians who had only read about the war. When Stuart and his men left Mercersburg they took several hostages with them including the editor of the Mercersburg Good Intent. The newspaper man was released by the rebels when they crossed the Potomac River back into Virginia. Stuart’s success also led indirectly to Abraham Lincoln deciding to replace Union General George McClellan with General Ulysses S. Grant.
NEXT SITE: ZION UNION CEMETERY
Drive south on North Main Street to Linden Avenue. Take 1st right onto West Fairview Avenue. Bennett Avenue is immediately off Fairview Avenue.
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Zion Union Cemetery Bennett Avenue, just off Fairview Avenue, Mercersburg, Pa 17236 This cemetery, established in 1876, contains the graves of 36 veterans of the United States Colored Troops (USCT). It is believed that eighty eight blacks from Mercersburg enlisted in USCT regiments, with exactly half in the 54th or 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry. The cemetery contains the remains of members of the 8th USCT, 22nd USCT, 24th USCT, 41st USCT, 45th USCT, and 127th USCT, plus the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry and the 2nd U.S. Colored Cavalry. The thirteen members of the 54th Massachusetts interred here are the largest group of burials from that regiment in any private cemetery. Several hundred Franklin County black residents enlisted into the Union Army during the Civil War as part of the United States Colored Troops. Three of the men were from the same Mercersburg family – Cyrus, James and William Krunkleton all served in the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry.
NEXT SITE: FAIRVIEW CEMETERY
Head east on West Fairview Avenue toward Linden Avenue. Turn left onto Fort Loudoun Road and take a right onto Buchanan Trail West. It is on the right.
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Colonel Paul E. Cullinane Jr.
Lives in: Chambersburg Age:71 Served: In Army from May 1967-June 1994
Col Paul E. Cullinane Jr. said he was struggling with what he wanted to do in life and at age 22, thought it would be the best opportunity for him to go into the Army. “I was a Sea Scout and Boy Scout and enjoyed the outdoors. I was a hands-on type of person, I knew how to use tools and it just seemed to me that it was a perfect fit,” Cullinane said. He was shipped to Fort Bragg to the 82nd Airborne Division and became a paratrooper. “I really enjoyed leaping out of planes,” he said, laughing. He was also in the 23rd Infantry Division , 1st U.S. Corps which was stationed in Chu Lai in Vietnam. Due to his experience and work, he became an officer of the 2nd platoon. “We really didn’t have much time,” he said. “We had orientation and then sent straight into the jungle. There was no seasoned leadership there so I had to get to know my men and do the best I could.” From July 1969 to July 1970, he served as an officer in Vietnam. “The one thing that stood out to me was the quality of the 18,19, 20 year old young men that served under me,” he said. “I tried to give them
the best training I could to keep them safe.” Cullinane continued his education while serving, including graduating from the Army War College and getting a Masters Degree at the University of Kentucky. “Civilian education became a prerequisite for advancement in the military,” he said. Ultimately, he was assigned to do work at the Pentagon before retiring in 1994. The transition back into civilian life was difficult he said, as well to try and separate from combat. “Whatever the emotions going on, myself and a lot of others are hung up on the ups and down,” he said.“My saving grace is that I remained in the Army. It helped me stay focused on doing a good job and slowly getting out of it. It is hard to not feel the things that became embedded in our hearts and minds.” Scheduling a reunion last year with his platoon also helped them all gain “closure,” he said. He came back to Chambersburg after being stationed at
Letterkenny Army Depot briefly during his service and had been asked to speak to a local boy scout troop. Around that time, he interviewed and accepted the position of president of Downtown Chambersburg Inc. Then, he became involved with the borough, where he now works as an Economic Development Specialist. He is involved with his church Corpus Christi, American Legion Post 46, is a VFW member, Hamilton Ruritan Club, Boy Scouts and is heavily involved with the Franklin County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial and Park. “It’s been a wonderful experience for me. The community has always welcomed me. I feel like I’ve had the opportunity to give back to them after giving to my country.”
. llinane Jr u C . E l u a Col. P nam nt in Viet a n e t u e i L 1st n Leader, 2nd Platoo n, t Battalio s 1 , C y n a Comp fantry , 198th In y r t n a f n I n, 6th AL Divisio C I R E M A , e Brigad f Vietnam Republic o
Confederate Graves at Fairview Cemetery 11089 Buchanan Trail West, Mercersburg, Pa 17236 Franklin County’s location on the Mason Dixon Line brought war to the doorsteps of the county’s residents. After J.E.B. Stuart’s Raid in October 1862, the citizens of Mercersburg took the presence of Confederate troops warily. During the Gettysburg Campaign, on July 1863, three Confederate riders were ambushed by two Union soldiers in the square of Mercersburg. One of the Confederates, Private J.W. Alban, was killed by the Union soldiers. Another escaped town. The third Confederate’s horse was killed, leaving him with no way to escape but on foot. He was soon captured by townspeople and taken to Union officials in McConnellsburg. Concerned more Confederates could be nearby
and discover Private Alban’s body, the people of Mercersburg hurriedly buried both Alban and the horse in a nearby brick kiln. Within a day’s time, the townspeople reconsider their actions and moved the soldier to a more fitting resting place in the Presbyterian Church graveyard. A day later, on July 5, Union soldiers led a captured Confederate wagon train with nearly 700 wounded soldiers into Mercersburg. Local churches became hospitals, and Mercersburg’s citizens nursed the Confederates. Some of the soldiers did not survive. Today, three Confederate soldiers--two of the soldiers who did not survive their wounds and Private Alban--are buried in Fairview Cemetery.
NEXT SITE: ENOCH BROWN MEMORIAL PARK
Start by going southest on Buchanan Trail West toward Seminary Lane. Turn left onto PA-995. Turn right onto Williamson Road, then turn left onto Enoch Brown Road in about 11 miles. The memorial and park is on the right.
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Enoch Brown Memorial Park 2730 Enoch Brown Road, Greencastle, Pa 17225 Dedicated in 1885, the Enoch Brown Memorial Park and statue is located on the site of the Enoch Brown School massacre that took place on July 26, 1764 during the Pontiac Wars. Four Delaware American Indians, known as Lenape, entered a settlers’ longhouse near Greencastle. Inside, the schoolmaster Enoch Brown and a number of students wer einside and Brown pleaded with the Indians to spare the children, but the eleven children and their teacher were attacked. There was only one survivor, a student named Archie McCullough. Settlers buried Enoch Brown and the schoolchildren in a common grave. In 1843, the grave was excavated to confirm the location of the bodies and in 1885, the area was named Enoch Brown Memorial Park and a memorial was erected over the gravesite. The inscriptions on the front of the monument read; “Sacred to the memory of Schoolmaster Enoch Brown and eleven scholars, Via: Ruth Hart, Ruth Hale, Even Taylor, George Dunstan, and six others (Names unknown) who were massacred and scalped by Indians at this spot, July 26, 1764, during the Pontiac War.”
The Massacre of Schoolmaster Enoch Brown and Ten Scholars by Cyrus Cort The ground is holy where they fell And where their mingled ashes lie, Ye Christian people mark it well With granite column strong nad high;
Above: An inscription on another side of the monument.
And cherish well, forevermore, The storied wealth of early years, The sacred legacies of yore The toils and trials of pioneers. -1902
NEXT SITE: MONTEREY PASS
Start out east on Enoch Brown Road toward Stone Bridge Road. Turn right unto Stone Bridge Road. In about 12 miles, turn left onto Williamson Road, which becomes Williamson Avenue. In about 15 miles, turn right onto US-11 South, then turn left onto West Baltimore Street. Enter next roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto PA-16. Then go about 14 miles. The museum is on the left.
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Battle of Monterey Pass 14325 Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, PA 17268
Fought during the retreat of Gettysburg, the Battle of Monterey Pass is the second largest Civil War battle fought on Pennsylvania soil with 10,000 from both Union and Confederate forces. The battle took place in the late hours of July 4, 1863 and the early hours of July 5, 1863 during solid darkness and a torrential downpour on a precarious mountainside, spanning two states and four counties. After the Confederate defeat at Gettysburg, General Robert E. Lee was faced with returning troops, supplies, artillery, wagons, and wounded across South Mountain to Virginia. From July 3 to July 6, the retreating Confederate troops moved across South Mountain. There were two routes the Confederate army took. One was along the Chambersburg Pike to Cashtown, onto Greenwood—today known as Fayetteville—and south to Hagerstown. A shorter route traveled winding mountain roads through Fairfield Gap and across Monterey Pass to Hagerstown. A twenty-mile train of Conestoga-style wagons retreated on the longer route through Cashtown and was led by Brigadier General John Imboden. With so much rain, there was much mud. The multitude and weight of the wagons made an arduous and long retreat. The exodus via the shorter route through Fairfield Gap and across Monterey Pass did not escape the terrible impacts of the rain. Men marched on flooded roads and thick mud. In many Confederate soldier’s diaries and letters, it was referred to as Mount Misery or the quagmire. The conditions made night travel even more dangerous because visibility was so limited. On July 4, Union troops led by General Judson Kirkpatrick removed the Confederate sentries at Fairfield and were able to advance toward Monterey Pass. Brigadier General George Custer charged the Confederates with the 6th Michigan Cavalry, allowing Kilpatrick’s men to reach and attack the wagon train. Ultimately, the Union forces captured more than 1300 Confederate men and destroyed nine miles of wagons. Today, the site of the battle is along PA Route 16, just east of Waynesboro. The battlefield land is preserved by the local municipality, Washington Township, and houses the Monterey Pass Battlefield Museum, open weekends from April to November. The museum interprets Civil War history, depicts details of the Battle of Monterey Pass, and portrays the historical significance of the region.
NEXT SITE: RED RUN PARK
Start out going west on Buchanan Trail West toward Upland Road. The memorial is in about 30 miles and is on the right.
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9/11 Tribute Memorial at Red Run Park 12143 Buchanan Trail East, Waynesboro, Pa 17268
In 2011, artifacts of the World Trade Center were made available to municipalities throughout the United States. Washington Township requested and received an artifact, a 4-feet, 1088-lb. steel I-beam. This I-beam, along with artifacts of the Pentagon and Shanksville, are the centerpieces of the Washington Township’s 9/11 Tribute. The memorial was unveiled and dedicated on September 11, 2013.
NEXT SITE: GREEN HILL CEMETERY
Head west on Route 16 toward Washington Township Boulevard. In about 3 miles, turn left onto South Potomac Street. After about a mile, the cemetery is on the left.
Above: Reflect and remember at 9/11 Tribute in Red Run Park, amidst the beautiful and powerful South Mountain. Left are the Rouzerville War Memorial and Cannon, which adjoin the 9/11 Tribute.
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Navy Pharmacist Mate 2nd Class Madeline Schmid Lives in: Dillsburg, family in Franklin County Age:93 Served: In Navy WAVE Program From 1943-1946
For Madeline Schmid, the Navy WAVE program was a way for her to help in the war effort while also “spreading her wings.” “I’d never been out of Brooklyn before,’ Schmid said. She turned 18 when World War II broke out but due to guidelines at the time, had to be 20 to join WAVE, or Women Accepted for Voluntary Emergency Service. After turning 20, and spending time volunteering at the Red Cross as a Nurse’s Aid, Madeline went to basic training at Hunter College in Bronx, which had been converted to house training. It was tight quarters, she said. “There were many women and one bathroom!” she said. Training for them, she said, was something new for the Navy, as the program itself was in its infancy. “They had us marching up and down the main streets in the Bronx,” she said. “We had classes on how to ID planes and other things that determined what you would be suitable for in the Navy.” She laughed as she remembered being told she should help by folding parachutes or training homing pigeons. “I did not want to be responsible for
the lives of them and I hate birds!” she said, laughing.
husband at the hospital when he was being treated after losing a leg.
Instead, her medical training came to their attention and she joined the hospital corp.
“He wasn’t my patient,” she said laughing. “He was just a patient there and we hit it off.”
From there, she had training at the North Carolina Marine Hospital and then was sent to the Seattle Naval Hospital where she worked in the contagious ward. After finding out about occupational nursing, she decided she’d like to change the type of service she’d like to do and was sent to California Naval Hospital.
She said she remembers the news of the end of the war like it was yesterday. “I can remember, we were right on the Pacific Ocean and all of these bells started going off,” she said. “We thought we were being attacked!”
There, she helped amputee soldiers returning from the South Pacific.
Instead, the announcement of the end of the war was a relief and a shock.
“We’d teach them how to do regular things again and use the prosthetics,” she said.
Six months later, she left the program and five months later, married her husband and had four children.
In addition to that, she gave the regular shots and helped in the recovery process.
Looking back, she said being a nurse took a lot of “willpower,” especially as she saw the injuries first hand.
Despite the injuries, she said she was impressed by these men and women.
She still meets with and socializes with a group of WAVE women from World War II and the Korean War.
“The spirits of the men were fantas“It’s nice to talk about our experitic,” she said. “You can’t keep them ences,” she said. down. They would be in the wheelchairs and would race each other! chmid How can you be down Madeline S lass Mate 2nd C when you see that going t s i c a m r a h P rogram on?” avy WAVE P It wasn’t all work at the hospital. Schmid met her
N untary ed for Vol t p e c c A n e (Wom Service) Emergency
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Grave of Henry Bonebrake Green Hill Cemetery 953 South Potomac Street, Waynesboro, Pa 17268
First Lt. Henry Bonebrake was born and lived in Waynesboro. As a member of Devin’s Division of the 17th Pennsylvania Volunteer Cavalry, Company G, he won the Medal of Honor for action in capturing the enemy’s flag at Five Forks, Virginia on April 1, 1865. His citation reads “As one of the first of Devin’s Division to enter the works, he fought in a hand-to-hand struggle with a Confederate to capture his flag by superior physical strength.” Bonebrake was born on June 21, 1838. He died on October 26, 1912. He is buried here.
NEXT SITE: GREENCASTLE-ANTRIM VETERANS MEMORIAL Head northeast on S Potomac St toward Cemetery Avenue. Turn left onto Route 16 West and follow Route 16 for about 8 miles and turn right onto North Washington Street. The building and monument is on the left.
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Greencastle-Antrim Veterans Memorial 60 N Washington Street, Greencastle
This memorial, located outside the Greencastle Borough offices honors veterans of Greencastle and Antrim Township. It was dedicated on Veterans Day 2008. The memorial spans the Revolutionary War, War of 1812, Spanish-American War, Civil War, World War I, World War II, The Korean War, Vietnam War, Operation Enduring Freedom, Operation Iraqi Freedom and has room for any future conflicts. With depictions of the past years of battle, this memorial serves as a silent tribute to the men and women who have given the ultimate sacrifice for their country. Please see Harry Ziegler VFW Post 6319 on page 34 for additional information.
NEXT SITE: CORPORAL RIHL MEMORIAL
Head south on N Washington Street toward E Baltimore Street and take the first right onto E Baltimore Street. Enter next roundabout and take the 2nd exit onto West Baltimore Street. Turn right onto North Antrim Way/Route 11 North and drive about 1 mile. The monument is on the left.
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Constructed in 1782 it is one of the oldest houses in Chambersburg. The home was built by Dr. John Colhoun, who was the first physician in PA to live and practice medicine west of the Susquehanna River. Son-in-Law to Benjamin Chambers, founder of the town, Colhoun’s wife, Ruhamah, was the oldest daughter of Col. Chambers and his wife Jane Williams Chambers. Built to be very solid and strong with walls more than 22” thick, Chambers donated limestone, originally quarried for his own use near the Falling Spring, for use in the south wall. The north side of the house was completed in 1786. On Sun. Feb. 17, 1788, Chambers attended the morning worship service at the Presbyterian Church of Falling Spring followed by Sunday dinner
at his daughter’s home. Soon after the meal, Chambers suffered a heart attack and died on a bench along the north wall of the wide hall within the house. He is buried at the rear of the church adjacent to the house. Only four years later, in Dec. 1792, Colhoun died of pneumonia and his widow lived in the house until her death. Surviving the burning of Chambersburg July 31, 1864, it remained in the Chambers family until the stock market crash of 1929 when the bank took possession of the home. The property was purchased by Robert A. Sellers in 1935, and after an extensive two year remodelling, was opened as a funeral home June 17, 1937.
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Corporal Rihl Memorial at Fleming Farm 9389 Molly Pitcher Highway/Route 11, Greencastle The Confederate army and cavalry, an estimated forty-seven thousand men, marched through Greencastle and Chambersburg in late June enroute to Gettysburg. Jenkin’s Cavalry led Rhode’s Infantry through Greencastle on June 23, 1863. They encountered a Union force near William Fleming’s farm along what today is Route 11. Jenkin’s force set up a skirmish line and fired on the Union men. The federals suffered two casualties, one killed and one wounded. The man killed was Corporal William Rihl of Company C of the 1st N.Y. Cavalry. He had been shot through the head. Rihl, who grew up in Philadelphia, was the first Union soldier killed on Pennsylvania soil in the Civil War. Confederates buried Rihl in a shallow grave. Several days later his body was reinterred at the Lutheran Church cemetery on North Washington Street. On July 22, 1886 he was reinterred at the site where he was killed. A year later this monument was built by the GAR Corporal Rihl Post #438 with funding provided by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s state legislature. Dr. Franklin Bushey, a surgeon of the 4th Pennsylvania Cavalry, was one of the movers and shakers who led the movement to honor Corporal Rihl.
NEXT SITE: FORT MCCORD
Head north on Route 11 toward Brian Drive. Turn right onto E Garfield Street in about 9 miles. Take the second left onto S 2nd Street/US 11 North. Turn left onto Commerce Street and then take the 2nd right onto Popular Avenue. Turn left onto West Commerce Street then turn right onto Edenville Road and follow it until you get to Fort McCord Road and turn right.
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Fort McCord Fort McCord Road & Rumler Road, Chambersburg
Fort McCord was a private fort built by a Scots-Irish settler, William McCord in 1756. The fort was located along the base of the Kittatinny Mountains and was used by the Colonial Militia during the Indian Wars and raiding excursions. The fort served as protection for neighboring settlers as well as the family. On April 1, 1756, Fort McCord was attacked and burned by Delaware leader Shingas and his warriors. Twentyseven were killed or taken captive. Today, a Celtic Cross marks the site of the attack. Jean McCord Lowry and five of her children were taken captive. At the time, she was pregnant and uncertain of her fate. She spent six weeks with the Delaware before being gifted to a French official as a servant. She gave birth, but the child did not survive. Jean Lowry was exchanged for French prisoners in autumn 1758 and made her way back to America in April 1759, three years after her captivity began. Ultimately, she reunited with her children. In 2008, Conococheague Institute completed a reprint of Jean Lowry’s captivity journal, which is available on Amazon.
NEXT SITE: SHIPPENSBURG VETERAN’S PARK
Head southeast for three miles on Fort McCord Road toward Wenger Road. Turn left onto Edenville Road and then turn left onto Gabler Road. Turn left onto Letterkenny Road and then turn right onto Siloam Road. In about a mile and a half, turn left onto Route 11 North. Drive for 8 miles then turn left onto Eberly Drive and take the 1st left onto Park Place. The park is on the right.
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Greencastle-Antrim Veterans Memorial “Honoring those who made the ultimate sacrifice”
In January of 2007, a Joint Committee was formed between VFW Post 6319 and American Legion Post 373 of Greencastle, Pennsylvania, for the purpose of designing, funding, and erecting a memorial to honor all Veterans from the Greencastle-Antrim area who died in service to our country during all of America’s wars and conflicts. The idea for the memorial was originally proposed by Mr. Ben Thomas, Jr. who, at the time, was the Antrim Township Supervisor. The memorial was designed in conjunction with Mr. Rick Freeman of Greencastle Bronze and Granite, of Greencastle, PA. Through the generosity of many, many Greencastle-Antrim businesses, organizations, and individual citizens, more than $60,000.00 was raised to fund construction of the memorial, and ground was broken on June 2nd, 2008. The memorial consists of eight (8) separate granite panels and is designed so as to depict each war and/or conflict that America was involved in, from the Revolutionary War to the present, and the names of those 120 Greencastle-Antrim Veterans who gave their lives in each of these wars and conflicts are engraved on each appropriate section of the memorial. Construction was completed on November 7th, and the Greencastle-Antrim Veterans Memorial was dedicated on Veterans Day, November 11th, 2008. Nationally known military historian Edwin Bearss, the Chief Historian Emeritus of the National Park Service, was one of the keynote speakers at the dedication ceremony. Mr. Bearss is a Marine Veteran of World War II in the Pacific where he was seriously wounded by Japanese machine gun fire.
Harry Ziegler VFW Post 6319 wants to thank all veterans who have defended our country and way of life and invites all veterans to visit the post at 408 S. Washington Street in Greencastle or by visiting www.vfw6319.org 34 │GREAT MOMENTS│www.explorefranklincountypa.com
Shippensburg Veteran’s Park 182 Park Place, Shippensburg This park is the largest public park in Shippensburg. The park includes memorials to over 5,000 area Americans, who served in WWII, the Korean War and the War in Vietnam. The memorials were dedicated on July 4, 1987. The project was paid for by contributions from over 250 local residents and businesses. The Vietnam Veterans Memorial contains the name of 1,283 who served from July 1958 until May 1975. Its inscription reads: “This was a long war. History will judge its worthwhile outcome.” The Korean War monument lists the names of 472 locals who were involved. A supplemental list of 1,491 who served in WWII is also a part of this monument. Additionally 609 served in the Civil War and 563 served in WWI. A water fountain in the park also serves as a dedication to those local servicemen and women who died in all wars. The fountain is surrounded by a garden that contains the American, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and POW-MIA flags.
NEXT SITE: LOCUST GROVE CEMETERY
Drive northeast on Park Place then turn left unto Molly Pitcher Highway/Route 11 Norther. Follow until turning left onto Newville Road/PA-533. In just over 2 miles, turn left onto Ott Road. The cemetery is on the right.
American Veterans (AMVETS) Post 224 AMVETS Post 224 was chartered May 21, 1964. We are a National Veterans Association that provides programs to Veterans and the Community. We offer facilities for banquets, wedding receptions & family gatherings to our members and the community. We offer membership to Post, Sons of American Veterans, Ladies Auxiliary, Social Members and AMVETS Riders. We support programs such as, Americanism Programs, Boy Scouts of America, Freedom Foundation ROTC & our local police force. AMVETS Post 224 also helps with providing state and national scholarships and Veterans in Need.
The Post also offers: -Breakfast buffet on 4th Sunday of each month -Dining and a bar area -Live bands -Cash drawings -AMVETS Family Picnics -Bus trips to other AMVET posts
amvets224@amvets224.com 750 Fifth Avenue | Chambersburg, PA 17201 717.267.0618 | Fax: 717.267.0289 Franklin County Military Trail of History│GREAT MOMENTS│ 35
Locust Grove Cemetery 41 Ott Road, Shippensburg Shippensburg had slaves even before the American Revolution. They were brought here by the Scots-Irish immigrants. In the 1780s, Pennsylvania’s Gradual Emancipation Law called for an accounting of slaves. At that time, the Shippensburg area had 47 slaves. With blacks in the area, this necessitated a black burial ground. James Burd included in his 1749 survey of Shippensburg a plot designated as “Negro Graveyard”. That same plot was transferred to “the black people of Shippensburg” by Edward Shippen Burd in 1842 “for the consideration of twenty cents a year and yearly forever which is to be and for the purpose of erecting a place of worship and Burying the Dead of the black people of Shippensburg and for no other purpose whatever.” Forty-four colored veterans are buried here from the Civil War to the war in Vietnam. Those graves include twenty-six veterans of the Civil War. Twenty-two of those were enlisted in the United States Colored Troops, with three others were from the 54th and 55th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry with one a Marine. Those USCT regiments represented in the cemetery include the 3rd USCT, 22nd USCT, 24th USCT, 25th USCT, 32nd USCT, 43rd USCT, 45th USCT, 127th USCT and the 2nd U.S. Colored Cavalry. Of those Civil War graves, more than two thirds had lived in Shippensburg at some time but had been born somewhere else.
NEXT SITE: CAMP MICHAUX
Start by turning right unto Newville Road/PA-533 and take the 1st left onto Brown Road. In a mile, turn left onto Ritner Highway/US Route 11 N. Turn right onto Centerville Road/PA-233 and in 9 miles, turn left onto Pine Grove Road. The camp is on the right.
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Harry Lackhove American Legion Post 517 Post 517 would like to honor the men and women who served our God, Country and Community and invite veterans from all branches of our Armed Forces to continue serving by joining our post.
Since our charter in 1920, the Harry Lackhove American Legion Post 517, Inc, of Mercersburg has been welcoming veterans from all branches of our Armed Forces. Our mission is to implement the goals, aspirations, dreams, peace and blessings for our country, friends and families embodied in our preamble. Our Home Association operates the social quarters which includes a lounge and restaurant facilities, plus a ballroom which is available for parties and special functions. Membership is open to veterans but we also have a Ladies Auxiliary Unit, Sons of the American Legion and Social Members. To the wonderful patriotic citizens of the Mercersburg community, join our Post and help us to continue sponsoring scholarships for our children; give aid and assistance to our local needy Veterans, and their families. Help us to continue to support financially worthy community programs and projects.
100 Keefer Drive Mercersburg, PA 17236 | 717-328-2410 www.papost517mercersburg.com
Franklin County...great moments in every season Fall is Fabulous
Frosty Fun IceFest 2017 Jan. 26- Jan. 29
IceFest, tubing & skiing
Harvest festivals, pumpkin patches & beautiful foliage
1864 Burning of Chambersburg
July 16, 2016 & July 15, 2017
A Cappella & Unplugged 866.646.8060 |717.552.2977 ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com Facebook.com/FCVBen | Twitter.com/FCVB
Franklin County Military Trail of History│GREAT MOMENTS│ 37
Camp Michaux at Pine Grove Furnace State Park Adjacent to 1100 Pine Grove Road, Gardners Prisoners of war from the surrender in World War II were held at two sites in Franklin County. Most were held at Letterkenny Army Depot. Some captured German and Japanese naval officers and enlisted men were held here, at a secret interrogation camp located in the CCC Camp at Pine Grove Forest. Reportedly the prisoners were plied with alcohol to get them to talk. It is believed that their barracks were wired so American officials could eavesdrop on them. It is thought that as many as 7,000 prisoners of war were interrogated here. One of the barracks that is still standing along the Appalachian Trail contains the name Erich John Berlin at the top right of the porch foundation. Park historians believe he might have been a German prisoner of war. Another building in the park was used to house horses that the guards might have needed had there been an attempt for the prisoners to escape. A marker that says “POW April 43 – May 46” and is the only marker regarding the prisoner of war camp that remains. Pine Grove Furnace operated as a church camp until 1971. Some who attended the camp talked of remembering seeing paintings made by one of the German prisoners of war that hung in th recreation building.
FAST FACT: 6,460 men and women from Franklin County served their country in World War II.
Please contact the Franklin County Visitors Bureau for a copy of the self-guided Camp Michaux walking tour.
Greencastle American Legion Frank L. Carbaugh Post 373
Post 373 is taking applications for new members in Post, Auxiliary, Social and Sons of Legion! Visit the website: Post373.com
254 South Carlisle Street, Greencastle, PA 17225 | 717-597-9954 Club Hours Sun-Thurs. Noon to 10pm Fri-Sat. Noon to 1am
Lunch and Dinner Hours Monday & Tuesday Noon-7pm Wed-Sunday Noon-9pm
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*Bingo Wednesday nights at 7pm *Smoke Free *A smoking room is provided
Reflect, honor and remember at: Franklin County Veterans and 9/11 Memorial Park Memorial and EMS Flag Proudly Sponsored by: The Honorable Richard Alloway II, Senator for PA’s 33rd District
Chambersburg Office: 37 South Main Street |Suite 200 Chambersburg, PA 17201 717-264-6100 www.senatoralloway.com Franklin County Military Trail of History│GREAT MOMENTS│ 39
Explore More Military History at VeteranTrailPa.org
866-646-8060 | ExploreFranklinCountyPA.com Facebook.com/FCVBen | Twitter.com/FCVB