File:36. Paul Danahy to Sam Gibbons, June 27, 1963 Page 1 (1e31278f-1ea7-4341-802c-590e33429a77).jpg

White paper with typed black text

June 27, 1963 Hon. Sam M. Gibbons, Member of Congress, Room 122, House Office Building, Washington, D. C. Dear Sam: I am belatedly enclosing a few suggested remarks which, as we mentioned on the phone, might be used in any way you deem fit, or thrown out altogether at your pleasure. They will have served their purpose if they are used as a take-off point. I am also enclosing: 1. Copy of the bill. 2. Names of the members of the Commission: Adam G. Adams, Coral Gables, Florida; Mrs. Wilson Baker, Tampa, and myself. The Governor did not fill the other two members. 3. Exact inscription carved on the monument which I drafted. 4. Gettysburg pamphlet for background material 5. Copies of a couple of old D. B. McKay’s articles about Governor Perry and Col. Lang. 6. I suggest you purchase the July edition of National Geographic with excellent Sandburg article and colored pictures of Gettysburg, plus cartoon drawings showing position of Perry (Lang) Brigade during July 2nd and 3rd. I have obtained Rev. Father Vincent Crawford, O.S.B. of St. Leo’s Abbey, Dade City, whose grandmother’s two brothers by the name of Mizell, served in Perry’s Florida Brigade, one of whom was apparently killed at Gettysburg, to give the invocation and benediction. I am working real hard to steal the North Carolina band which will play for the North Carolina rededication ceremonies on the evening of the first, and will play for the South Carolina dedication on July 2nd, for our own ceremonies with the national anthem, and I feel sure the entire ceremonies will not take more than half an hour. I am hoping we can have some news coverage of the event, and any assistance your office might give us on that would be certainly appreciated, since I think a photograph of the dedication or television coverage together with your remarks would be of real news interest throughout the state during this 100th Centennial observance.

• Keywords: Gettysburg; Gettysburg National Military Park; Photography; monuments; memorials; virtual experience; battlefield