Posted By Vincent DiFonzo on Aug 23, 2024 | 2 comments

House Leaders Julia Kerekes ’25 and Annie Bolenbaugh ’26 cheered on the class of 2028 during the first-year walk. (Vincent DiFonzo/The Gettysburgian)

By Vincent DiFonzo, Editor-in-Chief

The class of 2028 became the latest students to partake in the first-year walk, a Gettysburg tradition tracing back to November of 1863, when College students walked through town to hear Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Annually since 2003, students have retraced those students’ steps, walking down Carlisle Street, through the Gettysburg borough and to Gettysburg National Cemetery, where Lincoln’s historic speech is read aloud. 

The walk began in Christ Chapel, where the class of 2028 gathered and heard from President Bob Iuliano, who discussed the history of the first-year walk and its importance to the College community. 

Residential Education’s inflatable dinosaur costumes made a surprise appearance, with 5 students sporting the costumes greeting the class of 2028 as they entered Christ Chapel.

Students wearing inflatable dinosaur costumes greeting students in the class of 2028. (Vincent DiFonzo/The Gettysburgian)

The class of 2028 then made their way out of Christ Chapel and down Carlisle Street, which was temporarily closed to vehicle traffic. Students and other Gettysburg community members lined the street to welcome the new class. 

The College band played in Lincoln Square as the students made their way south towards Gettysburg National Cemetery. 

Arriving to the south of the Gettysburg borough, students walked through the Cemetery and gathered on the battlefield just to the cemetery’s south. 

Students Dani D’Angelo ’25 and Molly Arehart ’25 gave the opening remarks to the class of 2028. Marissa Duggan ‘25 was introduced, and she led the singing of the National Anthem. 

Next, Gettysburg Mayor Rita Frealing awarded the class of 2028 a key to the city, an annual tradition part of the first-year walk. Fernando Levy ’28 became the recipient of the key. 

President Bob Iuliano then took the stage to introduce the walk’s keynote speaker — Director of Orchestral Activities at the Sunderman Conservatory Professor César Leal. 

“As many of you may already know, in Spanish ‘historia’ means both history and story. And I love it that it is suggested a deep connection between individual paths and the very fabric that collectively builds what we call history,” said Leal. “It also acknowledges the importance of your past, but focusing on the here and the now while looking into the future.” 

Leal continued, “You are here because you belong here, and we will do everything in our power to remind you of that every step of your journey.” 

Students processing out of Christ Chapel to walk to Gettysburg National Cemetery. (Vincent DiFonzo/The Gettysburgian)

Students wearing inflatable dinosaur costumes march towards Christ Chapel to begin the first-year walk. (Vincent DiFonzo/The Gettysburgian)

Many students lined up on Carlisle Street to support the class of 2028, including this group of ResEd student staff. (Vincent DiFonzo/The Gettysburgian)