Brian Kennell presented an interesting program on Elizabeth Thorn, and her work at the Evergreen Cemetery in Gettysburg before, during and following the Battle in 1863. While her husband was off in the union Army, she stayed behind to run the cemetery, hand dig graves while she was pregnant, and assist Union forces who needed to know the roads in and out of this town in the center of the fighting.
He spoke of the development of the Gettysburg Civil War Women's Memorial, featuring a statue of Thorn, and the creation of the children's book, Evergreen: A Gettysburg Tale.
Kennell is the ninth superintendent in the history of Evergreen Cemetery. When his father became the eighth Superintendent, Kennel moved into the historic Evergreen Cemetery Gatehouse in 1976 at the age of 13. He 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.
Pictured below are photos of his presentation as well as the winners of the Monthly preservation book raffle.
