I had a great time this past weekend. The weather held out beautifully for us all. It was a wonderful experience going from a civilian farmer to an infantry sergeant all in one day. Issuing clothing, accouterments, and weapons were also aspects of entering the military that very few of us have ever experienced before.
There were several highlights that stick out in my mind... but I'll follow up with them later.
All of the images that Donica took are currently in the ONV image gallery for your viewing pleasure — and I'll upload them to the ONV group page on Facebook as well.
The important thing is that we helped the Grant Home out by doing what we do best, and, hopefully, we were able to generate enough donations to make a difference.
What browser are you using? The site works best with Firefox. Internet Explorer 8 can also view the site correctly the last I checked. Previous versions of IE don't work as well. It's a problem with Mircosoft and their unwillingness to comply with the W3C (www.w3.org/) standards for the internet.
This was only my third outing with the ONV, but I am definitely sticking with you fellers. It was a great weekend, great atmosphere and for the most worthy of causes, preservation. Hats off to all the NCO's, Terry Sorchy for everything he did, from setting this up to cooking; Scott Gutzke for being the Captain,and everyone in general. Good companionship a great time.
Thanks Terry for organizing an outstanding event. I know that you put a lot of sweat equity into the planning and execution. The result was a most rewarding experience. I enjoyed serving under the command of Captain Gutzke, serving with the NCOs, and being in the ranks with the men of the 45th Illinois. The surgeon and company clerk added much to the event also, by staying in character as they performed their duties. Thanks to all of you for a memorable experience.
Hey, that was a dandy traffic jam that we created as we marched through downtown Galena on Sunday.
Regards,
Dan
To All ONV and Citizens of the ONV,
Thank You ALL!
I dont have a count yet and probably wont until thursday but I think we did a great deal in helping the Grant home not just financially but enhanced the awareness of it by brining in folks from out of town to see it for the first time.
We did something rarely done ever in the hobby. We went from citizens to soldiers, with all steps included in between included. And everything clicked on all cylinders during the event. We were always on shedule or ahead of it.
Thank you Scott Gutzke for doing a great job as Captain. Andy Ackeret for all your work as the surgeon, Eric Fair, Dave Frohmader, Tim Ruyle, Mark Hidelbaugh, Jim Schuman, Dan McGraw,Bob Taylor, Layton Pennington and DD for all your supervisory roles as Nco's clerk and musician.
Thank you to all the men in the ranks you performed like the proffesionals that you are. You helped me without a hitch cleaning the commisary after every meal and really fullfilled your jobs.
Thank you also to the young men Mr Millers boys that did a bang up job as a musician and a young lad of Galena.
The ladies did a fantastic job as well. Your grace, charms and beauty, as well as your willingness to enlighten the public is something that a true event cant do without. You put on a wonderful lyceum, told about the house, backed us in our recruiting, and gave us our colors.
You also turned out an afternoon spread on Saturday that was second to none. We really need your support and you are appreciated more then you will ever know.
The Saturday entertainment and the candle light tours were first rate.
The Grant home love us and Terry Miller told me that we have carte blanche whenever we want there.
Thank you all for helping put up the camp and tear it down after the event.
A special Thanks goes out to Rob Gobtop, Brian and Charlene Staples,and Linda Little. They arrived early and stayed late to set up and rip down.
I hope you all enjoyed it as much as the public and I did. It was almost flawless.
Food drink and fellowship were in high supply.
For those that were not able to make it, we missed you and it was special.
Cheers
Terry Sorchy
Actually Terry, Nancy, Scott, Rob, Dave and anyone else involved in the planning and execution of this event we need to thank you. I had a great time and I thought the event went really well. I know we drew attention to the Grant home. I hope it helped bring in necessary funds. The food was superb. Rarely over 28 years do I come home from an event having gained weight but that's what happened to me last weekend.
I spoke to a couple of folks over the weekend about this. I'm in preliminary talks with the NPS at Lincoln's Home about doing a similar scenario in the Lincoln's Home neighborhood in July of 2011 the beginning of the 150th anniversary cycle. So keep that in the back of your mind for '11.
Eric and I were talking on the way home about attending the annual ONV meeting this fall/winter. I think we have some serious issues needed to be discussed.
After a week I'm still savoring the great time I had at the event. I'd like to thank the Grant Home for allowing us to hold an event there. They do a great job maintaining not only the home but the facilities next to the home and the park as well. They work hard with next to no staff to do it with, my hat is off to them. I would like to thank Terry for getting this event going, he did a lot of hard work to make sure it happened. He packed and brought out a large portion of the camp, brought the commissary, cooked, and packed it all up to take it home. It wouldn't have happened without you pard, and the value you bring to the ONV is irreplaceable. Thanks to all for the authentic and sometimes entertaining weekend. We did it for preservation, and hopefully we were able to make a difference for them. Terry did they ever give you a total on the money we may have helped bring in?? Hope to see all my pards soon in the field somewhere.
Robert Gobtop
Bringing out the songsters, and singing until we could
hardly talk. After one very stirring rendition, turning
round in great surprise to a large, cheering crowd!
"Not on my COVERLET!! Not on MY Coverlet!!"
(and then quietly dragging my stuff outside, to
sleep where the air was fresh and clean!)
Sewing up a brace button in the still morning, as
the camp was waking up.
Scott Gutzke's wisdom in teaching a young man who
he must not emulate: best advice ever!!
Port wine. Smoked fish. Great German food.
Chewy, grand bread with apple butter!
I can still hit a baseball (most of the time.)
The BOOM of the two '42s when we fired as a company.
Some of the smells as we stood before roll. Jez!
The formation of the anti-fish league. We need a
Lyceum on the relative merits of the humble fish as
a foodsource (I know who will argue against . . .)
Rob's impassioned words on the steps of the Grant home -
real period moment.
