FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:   November 8, 2013

For more information:
Bob Henry Baber
Public Relations Department
Glenville State College
304-462-6390
Bob.Baber@glenville.edu

GLENVILLE, WV--Glenville State College History Professor Dr. Art DeMatteo recently hosted a trip to the historic Gettysburg Battlefield for eleven GSC students currently or previously enrolled in his ‘History of the Civil War and Reconstruction’ class.

"Gettysburg was such an amazing place to visit. We can look at the photos from our textbook, but after having actually visited, you can really sense the loss the nation experienced there," said history and political science senior Carol Bearce of Pullman (Ritchie County), West Virginia.  "I'm thankful to Professor DeMatteo for going the extra mile to let us actually experience history in person," added Bearce.

“Although the Gettysburg Battlefield National Park was closed due to the government shutdown, we were able to tour historic sites in the town and did manage to see a number of important battle sites up close including the legendary Little Round Top and Devil’s Den,” DeMatteo stated. “The high point of the trip was the Gettysburg Museum and Cyclorama located at the Visitors Center, which remained open despite the shutdown,” continued DeMatteo.

"It was great that we got to visit Gettysburg. Professors don't often take their classes on field trips, and I feel we learned a lot more about it than we ever could have from a book," said psychology and sociology junior Adam Fuller of Durbin (Pocahontas County), West Virginia.

Accompanying the group was U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Historic Interpreter Tommy Smith, the Bulltown Battlefield Park Ranger in Braxton County, West Virginia. Smith said, “It was a fantastic trip. I personally was honored to be on this hallowed ground.”  Smith followed up the Gettysburg trip with a visit to DeMatteo's class on October 30th to give a presentation and to display uniforms for the students to see.

Other students who participated included Matthew Samples, Jonathan Bevins, Kelly Hendrick, Paul Roach, Andrew Bourgeois, Ronnie Mullins, Kevin Hardbarger, Cody Carnefix, and Christopher Rhodes.  DeMatteo’s wife, Betty, and his grandson, Ethan, also enjoyed the excursion.

“At Glenville State, we like to say we are a family...this really proved to be an exciting and educational extended family trip for all concerned,” DeMatteo concluded.

For more information about the trip or the GSC History Program, contact Art.DeMatteo@glenville.edu or (304) 462-6273.