On Friday, May 10, Mrs. Prella Smith and Dr. Lana Weaver took their 32 fourth grade students on a field trip to the Gettysburg National Battlefield and Visitor Center in Gettysburg, Pa., as part of a study of Pennsylvania’s historical impact and role in our nation’s history.

A grant from the Keystone Central Foundation and the generosity of the Liberty-Curtin PTO provided the necessary funds for this field trip.

The fourth grade students representing Liberty-Curtin in their blue Gettysburg T-shirts enjoyed the informative movie shown in the Visitor Center and were silently in awe of the descriptive painting that encircled the walls of the Cyclorama depicting the Battle of Gettysburg.

Students enjoyed a scavenger hunt through the displays inside the Visitor Center and the rain did not dampen their spirits as they ate lunch and began a narrated bus tour through areas of interest on the battlefield.

TAMMY COAKLEY/FOR THE EXPRESS Dr. Lana Weaver is shown in her Civil War era clothing handing out jerky and hard tack to school students.

Favorite moments included seeing “Sallie,” the regiment mascot on the memorial to the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry, viewing the landscape from atop the Pennsylvania Memorial and seeing the field crossed by Confederate soldiers in what has become known as “Pickett’s Charge.”

Another highlight of the trip was visiting the Shriver House in the town of Gettysburg to get a feel for what the residents of Gettysburg would have experienced as Union and Confederate soldiers descended on their town. The experienced guides, attired in clothing from 1863, led the groups of fourth graders through the entire Shriver House until reaching the attic where students saw the area where sharpshooters had once sat and took aim over Gettysburg.

The students came away with a better understanding of the toll the battle had on the residents themselves.

Before departing the town of Gettysburg, the group from Liberty-Curtin ate dinner at Hoss’s Steak and Sea, especially enjoying the soup/salad bar and the ice cream machine. The group arrived back at school in the evening and gathered their gift shop purchases to show family members as they told about their terrific day at Gettysburg.

Fourth grade students in Dr. Weaver’s classroom then showcased what they learned about the Civil War and their trip to Gettysburg in a presentation to the younger classrooms at the school on Tuesday, May 28.

TAMMY COAKLEY/FOR THE EXPRESS Savannah Rodrigez was a spy during the Civil War.

Barrett Yarnell read a list of states that were part of the Confederate and Union states.

Madelyn Parker told the younger students about why the battle was in Gettysburg and not in Harrisburg as originally had been planned.

Asa Sheely took his job as a slave catcher seriously. There were wanted posters tacked up around the classroom and he meandered around the classroom offering large rewards to anyone who had the whereabouts or information on several runaway slaves.

Callen Bechdel was a Union ironsmith who told about the different guns that were used during the Civil War.

Sharpshooters Gage Heverly and Easton Wright were positioned behind the brick walls keeping a look-out. The duo passed out bullets that had been shot from guns during the war for the younger students to see and touch.

TAMMY COAKLEY/FOR THE EXPRESS Jace Bower and Mia Killinger were conductors who helped slaves to safety through the Underground Railroad.

Savannah Rodrigez was a spy helping the soldiers. She had devised the use of a fan to let the soldiers know when to retreat or when to attack. Messages were written on paper that had been stained with orange juice that couldn’t be read unless placed under a light.

Kyler Emerick and Abel Zamora told about how they and other slaves had helped to spy for the Union soldiers. A plan was devised that if a quilt was hanging they should proceed with their plans. If there wasn’t a quilt hanging they were to stay put and hide.

Ayla Zidick was a Civil War surgeon who worked around the clock to clean and bandage wounds and perform operations to save lives.

Cole Caris and Jason Caranhan were part of a cannon firing squad, loading and adjusting the cannon for firing rounds and cleaning out the cannon barrel after each round was fired.

Mia Killinger and Jace Bower were conductors — the people who helped the slaves get to safety through the Underground Railroad.

TAMMY COAKLEY/FOR THE EXPRESS Cole Caris is shown cleaning the barrel of a cannon after Jason Caranhan fired it.

Ava Stapley, also known as Abraham Lincoln, read the Gettysburg address.

Tents had been set up in the middle of the floor depicting the encampments of the soldiers, who would be resting, eating, drinking coffee, playing cards or other games, since they weren’t marching or fighting in a battle.

As each of the younger classes were departing the classroom after the presentation, Dr. Weaver stood in the doorway, dressed in her Civil War long dress and apron, handing out jerky and hard tack that was a staple then.

Each of the students had a good time learning about Gettysburg and the Civil War.

TAMMY COAKLEY/FOR THE EXPRESS Sallie, the canine regiment mascot of the 11th Pennsylvania Infantry, accompanied the soldiers during the American Civil War.

TAMMY COAKLEY/FOR THE EXPRESS Sharpshooters, Gage Heverly (wearing a hat) and Easton Wright, showed bullets shot during the Civil War to students during the presentation.

TAMMY COAKLEY/FOR THE EXPRESS Barrett Yarnell reads the list of Confederate states during the Civil War to kindergarden students sitting on a United States map rug. Dr. Lana Weaver is shown standing in her Civil War era clothing.

TAMMY COAKLEY/FOR THE EXPRESS Callen Bechdel is a Union ironsmith during the Civil War presentation.