Gettysburg is one of the most powerful symbols in the American story. The fields where Union and Confederate soldiers fought in 1863 are not simply historic sites; they are sacred ground that reminds us of the terrible price paid to preserve the nation. When Abraham Lincoln stood here and spoke of a “new birth of freedom,” he placed Gettysburg permanently at the center of the American conscience.
People travel from across the country — and across the globe — to experience that history. They come to walk the battlefield, stand in the cemetery where Lincoln spoke, and reflect on sacrifice, unity, and national purpose. That heritage is the engine of our local economy, bringing well over a million visitors to Gettysburg each year and sustaining the restaurants, shops, and small businesses that keep this town alive.
In recent years, however, the public identity of downtown Gettysburg has taken a sharp left turn away from that historic focus. Pride festivals that close Lincoln Square, rainbow flags across storefronts, and the growing prominence of activist messaging have become a defining visual feature of the town’s commercial district.
For many residents and visitors alike, the shift has gone too far.
Gettysburg’s extraordinary draw has always been its Civil War heritage. Millions visit because of what happened here in July of 1863. That identity is the foundation of our tourism economy and the reason this small borough carries such national significance.
Yet visitors who arrive expecting to be immersed in that history are increasingly confronted with displays and events centered on radical leftist activism rather than the legacy that made Gettysburg famous in the first place.
Year-round advocacy displays dominate the visual character of the town and overshadow the history that brings visitors here. That concern is shared by more business owners than most people realize. I have been approached by several of these business owners, who are dismayed by the pressure they feel to be a part of this radical agenda. Some have begun declining to participate in displays or events that do not align with the historic character they believe Gettysburg should project.
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That courageous decision should be respected and emulated.
Local businesses — many of them family-owned and deeply tied to the heritage tourism economy — should never feel pressure, explicit or implicit, to participate in political or social messaging. Owners should be free to choose what symbols appear on their storefronts without fear of criticism or organized backlash.
Gettysburg’s greatest strength is the history that belongs to all Americans. Our downtown should reflect that story first and foremost. American flags, historic interpretation, and events that honor the courage and sacrifice of those who fought here reinforce the identity that has drawn visitors for generations.
Recent upheavals in local leadership have created an opportunity to reassess the direction of the town’s public image. Rather than allowing Gettysburg to be defined by radical activism, we can choose to refocus on the timeless story that made this place matter in the first place.
And the timing could not be better.
In 2026, the United States celebrates the 250th anniversary of its founding. Communities across the country are preparing to mark that milestone by reflecting on the ideals that shaped the republic and the sacrifices made to preserve it. Few places are better positioned than Gettysburg to help lead that national reflection.
As America approaches its 250th birthday, Gettysburg should stand as a beacon of the ideals that built this nation — not a stage for the political fashions of the moment. In the year the United States turns 250, few places carry a greater responsibility to preserve and present that story to the world. It is time to reject the activism forced upon our town.
Let businesses fly the Stars and Stripes proudly. Let our streets and squares reflect the courage and sacrifice of those who fought here in 1863. And as America approaches its 250th anniversary, let Gettysburg once again remind the nation that its greatest strength is not the politics of the moment, but the enduring ideals that held the Union together.
Sen. Doug Mastriano represents the 33rd Senatorial District of Pennsylvania, covering all of Adams and Franklin counties.
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