AOH 32 Jr. Division Tours Irish Brigade Battlefields at Gettysburg

On Wednesday, March 29, the AOH 32 Junior Division from Bishop Canevin - led by AOH Division 32 brothers' Jim "Bear" O'Connell, Mark Pritchard and I - travelled to Gettysburg to visit the sites where the infamous Irish Brigade fought. They left Pittsburgh at 6:00 a.m. and watched the movie Gettysburg on the way in order to get some insight into the battle.

When they arrived at Gettysburg around 10:00 a.m., they were met by the resident Irish Brigade expert/tour guide, Rich Kohr, at the National Visitor Center. He led them on a tour of some of the battle sites of Gettysburg, including the Peach Orchard, the “Wheatfield” (the most famous battle site of the Irish Brigade at Gettysburg), Devil’s Den, Little Round Top, and the end point of Pickett’s Charge.At the Wheatfield, Kohr aligned the group as the 116th Pennsylvania Regiment of the Irish Brigade would have been as they entered the battle. They marched through the Wheat Field and up to the Irish Brigade Monument, which depicts a life-sized Irish wolfhound lying at the foot of a monumental Celtic cross.

Here are what some of the Jr. AOH members had to say about the trip. "That was the most fun I’ve ever had for a history lesson,” said Sentinel Ross Hirschfeld. “It made me feel connected with my Irish roots,” added Nick Midgley, freshman. President Wesley Baker remarked, “The trip provided us with a great opportunity to tour the route of the Irish Brigade. Being able to stand on the same ground where our forefathers fought and died was an unforgettable experience.” Treasurer Mike Garrity summed up the group's entire day, “There is only one word to describe the trip…tremendous!”
One of the goals of the Jr. AOH is to cultivate an appreciation of Irish tradition and history and the students look forward to similar experiences in the future.