File:67a. Chairman LGMC Mrs. Clarence Letteer to Supt. GNMP George Emery, July 22, 1970 Page 1 (1b9d3255-78f9-4637-94f7-8ebf5cea491c).jpg

White paper with typed black text

July 22, 1970 Mr. George F. Emery, Supt. Gettysburg National Military Park Gettysburg, Pennsylvania 17325 Dear Mr. Emery: I have wanted to write to you for sometime, but my many pressing duties, trips, and correspondence regarding the progress report and continued efforts toward the completion of the Louisiana Gettysburg Memorial Monument, has caused a delay in my desires. I want to take up the matter of the military portion of the program. I have secured the assistance, great information, and thorough planning of Col. Numa P. Avendano, AUS (Ret), of the Washington Artillery Veterans Association, 4644 Mandeville Street, New Orleans, Louisiana, 70122. I have recently received his services and I have secured the approval of Mr. Lamar Gibson, Miss Gregory, and our Executive Commission, as well as a majority of the Commission that I could reach, to have this organization furnish all of the military honors which need to be done. I have met several times with Col. Avendano, and on two of these occasions Miss Gregory was present, and she greatly approves of him. He was very much pleased with yesterday’s meeting when I read the inscription that will be placed on the monument. In fact, your historian had drafted this inscription and I approved it on January 2, 1968, and it was also approved by all the Commission members. You might wish to correspond with Col. Avendano at the address given in paragraph two. I am also enclosing a number of photographs which were sent to me recently by Mr. DeLue, and it seems now, according to my knowledge, that the finished models in plaster have been sent to Italy for casting in bronze. Perhaps you know that Mr. DeLue has asked for an extension of his contract, from December 5, 1970, to April 5, 1971. The Commission has approved, but it has not been approved by our State Division Administration under the Honorable John J. McKeithen. I had certainly hoped to see you earlier in June when Miss Gregory came to visit Mr. DeLue’s office, but the many committees I have here, plus my recent bout with a heart attack a little more than a year ago made me take a second look at such a long trip such as Miss Gregory had to make. I deemed it wise to take care of

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