September 1st Program Details Announced

Brian Kennell will present a program on Elizabeth Thorn, highlighting her accomplishments before, during and following the Battle of Gettysburg; the development of the Gettysburg Civil War Women's Memorial and the creation of the children's book, Evergreen: A Gettysburg Tale.
Gettysburg native Brian A. Kennell is the ninth superintendent in the history of Evergreen Cemetery. At the age of thirteen, Kennell moved into the historic Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse in 1976 and has lived there as an adult since 1990. He has been employed by the cemetery association since 1978 and succeeded his father, Arthur L. Kennell, as superintendent in 1991. He has served as president of both Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Adams County and the Gettysburg Civil War Women’s Memorial Association. He is the author of the book Beyond The Gatehouse: Gettysburg's Evergreen Cemetery and recently produced the children’s book Evergreen: A Gettysburg Tale. As a singer/songwriter/producer, Kennell has performed and recorded for over 30 years and has worked with Grammy-winning artists and notable musicians while recording/producing in Nashville since 2009. His future projects include a revised Beyond the Gatehouse book (2027) and documentary on Evergreen Cemetery’s history.

Inside Evergreen Cemetery, near to the Cemetery’s gatehouse, a Women’s Memorial depicts a pregnant woman wiping her brow as she prepares to bury yet another man slain at the Battle of Gettys- burg. She was immortalized in this way for having taken over the responsibility for the cemetery after her husband, a member of the 138th PA, was called away to fight for the Union.

Join us as Brian Kennell to learn more about Elizabeth Thorn’s story.

From the Brigade Commander - September 2026

We are now just one year shy of beating the odds of accomplishing what only 10-15 percent of all US nonprofits achieve*: Making it to 50 years of operation! And although inflation has placed a damper on what ought to be a purely celebratory period in our organization’s history, our Board continues to look for—and find—opportunities that quickly get us through what I am hopeful will be a temporary rough spot.

In the meantime, I ask you to not allow yourself to believe that this present bump in the road is the beginning of the end of the road! True, we did announce, in our Summer newsletter issue, that we’ll need to increase both the membership fee and the walk-in lecture fee in Campaign 49 to better ensure we can cover the increase in hotel expenses that will hit at the beginning of 2027. But know the Board has been working, for some months, to identify options that address both the known (and, possibly, as yet unknown) cost increases.

A reminder that our first meeting for Campaign 49 will take place at the Delta Hotel in Fogelsville on Tuesday, September 1. Lecture details are inside. I can’t wait, and I hope to see you there.

One last thing: I want to share the good news that a recent cancer follow-up check found nothing! I am officially cancer-free! I’m sure your many well-wishes played a role in my recovery. Thank you.

Barry

* Source: The Foundation Group

From the Brigade Commander - Summer 2026

At the risk of repeating myself, our organization is not currently living up to the pledge that its “founding fathers” made long ago: Making Civil War preservation a top priority. The reason is simple:

The cost of both goods and services have significantly increased over the last two years. For Campaign 48 (2025-26), we were able to negotiate with the hotel to eliminate one cost increase, but a second increase remains in force. Ultimately, the Board needs to proactively look for a longer-term way(s) to cover the rising costs we expect will continue in 2027 and beyond. And it’s doing just that.

During the June BOD meeting, Ed Root, who stepped in for me while I was continuing to mend, shared several actions the Board will take in Campaign 49. These actions are outlined, on page 3 of the Summer 2026 Newsletter. At the same meeting, Ed announced the Board would agree on a Campaign 48 preservation activity at its August meeting, assuming it could figure out a way to financially support it.

As an ongoing, subtle reminder of the oath we took as an organization (to make a difference in the fight for Civil War preservation),  we will place a donation box on the “check-in” table outside of our meeting room. There, it will serve as a discrete, regular reminder of one of the two key reasons our organization was founded ... and make it easier for motivated members to make a preservation donation. Any amount will be appreciated.

Our first Campaign 49 meeting will take place on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at our usual location (the Delta Hotel Lehigh Valley - near Fogelsville), and I look forward to seeing you there.

Look inside the Summer 2026 Newsletter for a preview of the topics and speakers for the entire Campaign.

Barry

2026-2027 Program Schedule Announced

June Meeting Highlights and Photos

Ed Root, substituting for Barry, opened the meeting with a retrospective of the history of the roundtable and the impact on it by George Seligman, to whom the June meeting is dedicated. He talked of the peak interest in roundtables and the slow decline of many, including our own. He spoke of the need to increase fees, attract more members and make other changes for the future.

We held our monthly book raffles - winners pictured below; and also held the yearly preservation raffles. Check the sumer newsletter for a list of winner. Prizes are depicted at the bottom.

Our featured presentation was by General Grant (aka Ken Serfass) talking about developments in railroad technology and utility before and during the Civil War. Gen. Grant related his own experiences with trains and railroading from his youth through becoming the victor of the Civil War through stories and artifacts from the period.

  Serfass, from Bethlehem, PA, had a career as a US Marine from 1984 to 2004. He is a former reenactor and now a first-person impressionist with 52 years studying his hero, US Grant. As a full-time living history story-teller he presents from 11 to 20 programs monthly, February through December.

Winners of the Monthly Book Raffle for Preservation

Prizes for the Annual Preservation Raffle.

From the Brigade Commander ~ June 2026

I invite each of you to attend our June meeting dinner, annually dedicated to our organization’s founding father, George Seligman. It was George who molded a small group of then-mostly youngsters and taught them to become self-determined learners of the American Civil War and active supporters of related preservation and conservation activities. Visit page 2 of our June Newsletter for sign-up information.

Board members are mulling the possibility of hosting a second popup museum in Bethlehem—this time, during the summer months and, likely, Saturdays only. It’s still early days, but the building’s owners have already indicated willingness to donate the space. There’s plenty of discussion ahead, but I wanted you to know of this potential opportunity now. Expect more details soon.

We recently received an interesting request from Les Rolston, an author of three books about the Civil War—and a fourth in the works. His new book will be based on the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry, and he has asked for help regarding letters or diaries from members of the 13th you may have—or known to exist. He has promised to acknowledge all individuals who provide him with material he can use. Les can be reached by phone or email: 401 408 6472 or lesrol2@gmail.com.

Program chair Laura Kleinschmidt has nearly filled our speaker lineup for Campaign 49, which you’ll find on page 2 of the June Newsletter. Feel free to share this newsletter with friends or neighbors you think may have an interest in joining our Round Table in Campaign 49.

BARRY

Request for Info about the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry

Our CWRT recently received a request for any information you may have about the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry. The request is as follows….

May 12, 2026

Hi. I am the author of three Civil War books (see at right for one) and currently working on a fourth.  The book is based on the 13th Pennsylvania Cavalry. 

I'm hoping some your members could suggest any extant letters or diaries from the regiment.  They will be duly noted in the acknowledgements section of the book. 

I can be reached at lesrol2@gmail.com
or by phone : 401 408 6472.

Les Rolston

Warwick, Rhode Island

June 2 Program Details Announced ~ Ken Serfass

General Grant and Civil War Rail Roads

The successful military commander wins because he is able to adapt to changing situations, and so it was during the Civil War and the developments in railroad technology and utility. General Grant enjoys a reputation as a fine horseman, but it’s not just flesh and blood horses, but the Iron Horse as well that Grant appreciates.

In this meeting with Lincoln’s General in Chief, he will give some background on the development of rail roads in America during his own formative years and will describe how the nation and its rail roads grew up together, in those tumultuous years of the American Civil War. Gen. Grant will relate his own experiences with trains and railroading from his youth through becoming the victor of the Civil War through stories and artifacts from the period.

If you are a fan of US history, no matter a student of the Civil War, or America’s rail roads, or life in the 1800’s, this encounter will engage and cross over to many areas of interest.

Bio: Kenneth J. Serfass, Gunnery Sgt USMC, retired

Gunnery Sgt Kenneth J. Serfass is from Bethlehem, PA, born in June 1966 and a career US Marine from 1984 to 2004 serving his final tour with the First Marine Division Band during Operation Iraqi Freedom. Upon retirement Ken became a music teacher in San Diego.

Ken is a former reenactor and now a first-person impressionist with 52 years studying his hero, US Grant. As a full-time living history story-teller he presents from 11 to 20 programs monthly, February through December. His first appearance as General Grant was in 2009, in Southern California and since 2014, now back East, he presents at schools, living history, reenacting and roundtable events, public libraries, and annually back in Southern California at Huntington Beach’s Civil War Days over Labor Day weekend.

In 2023 the state of California recognized his contributions “to continued education of the public as to our national history” with coincidental certificates from the state assembly and senate in recognition of his efforts, presenting these to him at the Huntington Beach event.

Firmly established on both coasts, there is no other “Grant impressionist” with his reach, presenting in fifteen states annually. He jokes that the history talks and as the leader of his Civil War era Marine Band, requires that all this work is dependent on time travel.

His repertoire covers programs on Grant’s war campaigns, interactions with Lincoln, Sherman, and Lee, and most importantly, the Grant family, and the two terms as 18th US President. His knowledge of Grant’s life led to being cast as President Grant and tech advisor for a documentary on Fox Nation, debuting October 10, 2021.

He has appeared at Pamplin Park and NPS sites during the “Civil War 150”. In 2015 he was invited by The Federal Generals Corps, to be their “Ulysses S. Grant” until the group disbanded in 2020. In May of 2025, he debuted as a guest speaker aboard  American Cruise Line’s Mississippi Riverboat Civil War cruises, making Tennessee his newest host state. At the 2025 California trip to the Huntington Beach Civil War Days,

Ken participated in filming of “Storage Wars’ and is seen in an upcoming episode in Season 14 as General Grant. And in April, appeared as President Grant for the reenactment of the unveiling of the Emancipation Memorial in Washington DC. In 2020, he crafted a YouTube series, “How the War Was Won in the West”, 9 episodes covering the campaigns of Grant in Tennessee and Mississippi.

He has spoken on the Vicksburg Campaign to the Gettysburg Licensed Battlefield Guide Association to develop broader civil war study among the guides and is the first Grant impressionist to present his own topics at the General Grant National Memorial, in New York City, presenting as General or as President, and developing Junior Ranger programs for NPS, bringing America’s youth closer to history.

Entertaining and educational, his performances include the sites above, as well as business groups seeking leadership training and inspiration, allowing for people to talk TO history and interact with US Grant.

Ken will say, there is nothing he is prouder of than his daughter Erin, who works in production in Los Angeles. He believes this work inspires her to make her own path.

It is with a profound honor that he tells the story of one of America’s greatest military leaders and Ken takes it very seriously to reaffirm Grant’s place of honor among the most respected people of our nation’s history. His passion for the subject is evident in his presentation, and it is hard not to be affected by his enthusiasm and believe that you’ve met US Grant in living history.

Help Needed for Roundtable Display on May 23rd at Heritage Center

History Expo 2026
Saturday, May 23rd, 2026 – 10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum
432 W. Walnut Street
Allentown, PA 18102

Our CWRT is looking for some help to talk to visitors about our CWRT & help with a raffle at the big history expo at the Heritage Center on May 23rd, the Saturday of Memorial Day weekend.

Anyone able to come in period  dress, either military or civilian would be a real plus. 

As described in the May Meeting Highlights Kay Bagenstose spoke of her Bicentennial Covered Wagon ride bringing the Liberty Bell replica from Philadelphia to Allentown. As we approach the 250th, she talked about the Lehigh County Heritage Museum program on May 23, in which the period clothing from that ride will be featured on lifelike mannikins of her and her late husband.

Come, enjoy and help Kay and the CWRT on the 23rd. 

Enjoy FREE admission as more than 20 local history organizations, special guests Jon Provost and Laurie Jacobson, colonial music, vintage cars, children’s activities, mini-tours of Trout Hall, and a new exhibit bring the past to life.

The day concludes with a free outdoor concert by the Allentown Band on the museum lawn.

Additional parking for the History Expo is available behind the Allentown School District building on 31 South Penn Street, a half block from the Heritage Museum.
FREE to everyone

May Meeting Highlights and Photos

Ed Root introduced Kay Bagenstose who spoke of her Bicentennial Covered Wagon ride bringing the Liberty Bell replica from Philadelphia to Allentown. As we approach the 250th, she talked about the Lehigh County Heritage Museum program on May 23, in which the period clothing from that ride will be featured on lifelike mannikins of her and her late husband. CWRT will also have a display on that day. More information at right —>

Ed also spoke of the possibility of reopening the Bethlehem pop-up museum this summer for visitors to the city. It woud be more low key and perhaps only one day a week.

Our presenter, Scott Hartwig, shared letters written by soldiers describing their battle experiences. Some were penned immediately after the fighting, some a few weeks later, and others after some time had passed.

He explained that depending on the recipient, the tone might be entirely different. A note to a worried mother might downplay the severely of the battle. A letter to a friend might be boastful, While a more distant reflection might want to give honot to his unit.

Reading these letters might give one flavors of reality or not. Checked against historical records, one can begin to dig deeper into the soldiers’ expereinces of the Civil War.

It was a fascinating look at the geography, progression, and location of fighting at Antietam.  

  Hartwig was the supervisory park historian at Gettysburg National Military Park and retired in 2014 after a 34-year career in the National Park Service, nearly all of it spent at Gettysburg.  He won the regional Freeman Tilden Award for excellence in interpretation in 1993, and was a key player for the design of all aspects of the current Gettysburg museum/visitor center. 

He is the author of To Antietam Creek: The Maryland Campaign from September 3 to September 16, published in September 2012 by Johns Hopkins University Press, and of I Dread The Thought of the Place: The Battle of Antietam and End of the Maryland Campaign.

We held the Preservation Book Raffle and the winners are pictured below.