RE-ENACTMENT: Ceremony honors Gettysburg anniversary

of professional musicians. He named the late Bob Tessier for one, and is quick to praise veteran craftsman Eric Peterson as an invaluable associate with the bugle project.

Bugles played an important role in the Civil War. The musical sound of fife, drum and bugle was not only necessary for the telling of time and duties in camp, but helped give instructions to troops to advance or retreat, among other actions. At the Battle of Gettysburg, for example, Gen. George Pickett and his men made their now infamous charge to the sounds of “Bonnie Blue Flag.”

Mention of Gettysburg brings up another historical piece to this year’s ceremony. Leading the charge to bring Civil War reenactors from the 1st Minnesota infantry to White Bear Lake May 29 is (Ret.) Army Reserve Colonel Gary Carlberg.

The Minnesota volunteers are famous for the sacrifices they made in the 1863 battle for the Pennsylvania borough. As a reenactor, Carlberg portrays the Union general who rallied the fresh troops at Gettysburg.

The commander, Major General Winfield Hancock, is said to have ridden up to the 1st Minnesota, the only organized Union troops at hand on July 2, pointed at the advancing Confederates and ordered them to “Take those colors!” In other words, capture their flag. Their courageous charge against overwhelming odds halted the enemies’ advance and bought desperately needed time for the center of the Union line to reform.

Accounts vary, but it’s thought the 262 1st Minnesota volunteers were outnumbered 3 or 4 to 1 as they fought at close range over 300 yards of open ground near Cemetery Ridge. They lost 215 men, or 82% of the regiment in one day in the bloody battle. Hancock would later say that “No soldiers on any field, in this or any other country, ever displayed grander heroism.”

The remainder of the regiment also helped repulse Pickett’s charge to take Cemetery Hill on July 3, which history says marked the end of the battle and was a turning point in the war.

Well versed on history of the war between north and south, Carlberg serves as commander of the Sons of the Union Veterans of the Civil War. “We do research to find all Union soldiers buried in each county of Minnesota, and try to identify who is the last one,” he explained. He is also vice commander of the White Bear Legion.

His interest in the Civil War was piqued as a youngster when an uncle showed him a button from his great-grandfather’s uniform. Another

Obituaries

Greg N. Dupre

March 4, 1951 — February 2, 2023 of White Bear Lake, MN

A Tribute to Mr. D: Greg Dupre, will take place on Thursday, June 1, 2023 at Vadnais Heights Commons, 655 East County Road F, Vadnais Heights. Visitation will begin at 5pm with a Memorial Service at 6pm. A Celebration of Greg’s life will continue after the service. For Greg’s full life story, please visit Mueller Memorial’s website. MuellerMemorial.com 651.429.4944.

Harry “Larry” Lorain Fisk, Jr.

March 16, 1936 – March 10, 2023.

Harry “Larry” Lorain Fisk Jr, passed away peacefully on March 10, 2023, at the age of 86, in Maplewood, Minnesota. Larry was born on March 16, 1936, in Chicago, Illinois, to Harry “Pete” Lorain Fisk Sr. and Golden “Scottie” Ruth McPherson and the oldest of four sons in the family.

Larry grew up in St. Croix Falls, Wisconsin, where he attended High School and his friends gave him the nickname “Luda” (as in Lutefisk). He was a gifted athlete and excelled in football, basketball, and baseball. As shooting guard and co-captain for SCF High School basketball team he played an important role in leading the team to the State Tournament in 1954. That same year, Larry also achieved a remarkable feat by pitching a no-hit, no run game in the high school baseball tournament.