Annual General Meade Birthday Celebration

On December31, 2024 the General Meade Society celebrated the 209th Birthday of General George G. Meade at Laurel Hill Cemetery

GMS President, Anthony Waskie’s December 31, 2024 ‘General Meade

A Thousand Thanks to ALL who helped, assisted and participated in the 34th Annual Anniversary Celebration of the birthday of General George G. Meade and paid HONOR to his veterans on December 31, 2024 at Historic Laurel Hill Cemetery, born in Cadiz, Spain, 2024 marked General Meade’s 209th birthday.

We enjoyed wonderful weather; we received great support from Laurel Hill Cemetery, staff; workers; and administration; as well as our regular co-sponsors:

• Loyal Legion (MOLLUS)
• Legion Post 405 at the Union League
• History Community (Civil War Round Tables; Museums)
• the Heritage Community (Sons of Union Veterans; MOLLUS; etc.)
• interested citizens.

In all, we counted over 200+ attendees.

We did receive TV coverage from NBC Channel 10 and Fox Channel 29.

On to our ambitious schedule of General Meade Society programs and events for 2025, including our Annual History Symposium in April, this years’ program is titled, ‘The 250th Anniversary of the Founding of the Army – Navy – Marine Corps (1775 – 2025)’ ALL connected to Philadelphia!

Regards,
Andy Waskie, PhD
President, Gen. Meade Society of Philadelphia

Birthday Event Overview’

Society VP Michael Peter’s Keynote Address

Good Afternoon! When Andy asked me to deliver the keynote address, I figured we must be running out of people to speak. The good news is I am not Dr. Waskie, and we should be able to get to the champagne sooner than later!

In thinking about what I wanted to say today, I decided on talking about what drew me to General Meade in the first place. It is simple, Meade is a Philadelphian.  When you start reading and studying the General’s life, you are struck with the fact
that he was a fighter, in the sense that he was always leading from the front. He knew how to give commands and allowed his officers and men the leeway to carry them out.

The battle of Gettysburg is often referred to as his greatest moment, but his pre-Gettysburg service is often glossed over. At Glendale, it is said he was all over the battlefield which led to him being wounded. After convalescing for only 42 days, he rejoined the army in time for the Battle of Antietam, where he was field promoted to Corp Commander after General Hooker was wounded. At Fredericksburg, he broke through on the left of the line against Stonewall Jackson’s troops, only to have to fall back for lack of support. And at Chancellorsville, he was among a handful of Generals who wanted to stay and fight.

After Gettysburg, he had to continuously defend himself in Washington and was blacklisted by the press. He had to live under Grant’s shadow for the remainder of the war, and was overlooked for promotion after the war. Because of this, Meade became largely forgotten.

When you read General Meade’s letters, you can get a sense of how proud of a man he was, and also how humble. He was not a glory seeker and wasn’t in the habit of airing his disappointments in public. In fact, contrary to the oft-quoted characterization of the “goggle-eyed snapping turtle, those who knew him best spoke of him in terms of being a gentleman, noble, dignified and kind.

For all that General Meade achieved in his life, perhaps, I feel at least, his greatest appointment was made by the City of Philadelphia when they made him a commissioner of Fairmount Park. It is said the last years of his life were spent riding throughout Fairmount Park, to which he was familiar with every nook. It is obvious he chose this resting place so he would always be near to his beloved park.

Today, Fairmount Park is synonymous with the City of Philadelphia. Thousands of people enjoy it every year. General Meade did not live long enough to see Gettysburg rise to a great National Park, however, he gave his city a gem that we often forget he had a hand in creating. When I hear Fairmont Park mentioned, I often think of General Meade, the Philadelphian!

The wound General Meade received at Glendale would kill him in November 1872 at 56 years of age, just two months shy of his 57th birthday. The last two months of every year have become a time of remembrance, thanks, and renewal. What a gift that General Meade was born on New Years Eve. As we go forth today, I urge all of us to emulate General Meade’s kindness and humbleness, and to do our work as he did, Bravely, so that we may know peace in our time.

Thank you!