PRINTER'S NO. 1585
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA
SENATE RESOLUTION
No.
291
Session of
2024
INTRODUCED BY MASTRIANO, BROWN, COSTA, CULVER, PHILLIPS-HILL AND
VOGEL, MAY 7, 2024
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, MAY 7, 2024
A RESOLUTION
Designating the week of July 1 through 8, 2024, as "Gettysburg
Week" in Pennsylvania.
WHEREAS, Between July 1 through 3, 1863, the Battle of
Gettysburg in Gettysburg took place between the Union Army of
the Potomac, led by General George G. Meade, and the Confederate
Army of Northern Virginia, led by General Robert E. Lee; and
WHEREAS, The Battle of Gettysburg is considered the most
important engagement of the American Civil War as it was the
turning point for the North; and
WHEREAS, Leading up to the Battle of Gettysburg, the
Confederate Army was advancing toward Harrisburg with the
northernmost engagement in Hampden Township, Cumberland County;
and
WHEREAS, On July 1, as both armies headed toward the Borough
of Gettysburg, the Army of Northern Virginia drove the Union
Army of the Potomac through town to Cemetery Hill located a half
mile to the south; and
WHEREAS, On July 2, the Army of Northern Virginia attacked
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the Union Army of the Potomac, which stretched from the nest of
boulders known as Devil's Den into a peach orchard, as well as
in a nearby wheat field and on the slopes of Little Round Top;
and
WHEREAS, On July 3, the Army of Northern Virginia, via
"Pickett's Charge," attacked Cemetery Ridge but was ultimately
repelled by the Union Army; and
WHEREAS, On July 4, the Army of Northern Virginia withdrew
from Gettysburg; and
WHEREAS, The Battle of Gettysburg was the battle with the
largest number of casualties in the American Civil War with
28,000 Confederate casualties and 23,000 Union casualties; and
WHEREAS, On November 19, 1863, President Abraham Lincoln
delivered the Gettysburg Address at the dedication of the
Soldiers' National Cemetery; and
WHEREAS, More than 3,500 soldiers were buried at the
Soldiers' National Cemetery after losing their lives in the
battle; and
WHEREAS, Reconciliation between the north and the south began
at Gettysburg through warm and respectful post-war reunions that
featured peace walk reenactments of Pickett's Charge in 1887,
1913 and 1938; and
WHEREAS, The Gettysburg battlefield was designated as a
National Military Park in 1895; and
WHEREAS, The residents of Gettysburg helped to preserve the
land that now serves as the Gettysburg National Military Park,
including the Soldiers' National Cemetery and the Gettysburg
battlefield; and
WHEREAS, More than 1 million people travel each year to visit
the park, museum and visitor's center; therefore be it
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RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of July 1
through 8, 2024, as "Gettysburg Week" in Pennsylvania; and be it
further
RESOLVED, That the Senate commemorate the Battle of
Gettysburg during the Civil War; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate recognize the historical
significance of the outcome of the Battle of Gettysburg which
helped to preserve the United States; and be it further
RESOLVED, That the Senate encourage residents of this
Commonwealth to visit Gettysburg National Military Park.
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