Encampment

Gunfire popped Sunday afternoon during a re-enacted Civil War battle that closed a weekend encampment at Renfrew Park. Cream-colored tents dotted the park's forested areas for the annual encampment. “Where we camp out is very nice. ... The battles are really good. It's a calm, easy event,” said Ronald Carstetter, an Arendtsville, Pa., resident who participated in the battle with the 24th North Carolina Co. B. Spectators lined a stone wall for the generic battle that followed a period church service.

KINGWOOD, W.Va. - The West Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol recently completed its annual cadet summer encampment at Camp Dawson, an Army National Guard training facility in Kingwood. The weeklong event is held each year in order to give the CAP cadets a greater understanding of CAP and its Air Force missions and capabilities, develop the cadets' leadership skills, enhance their interpersonal and time management skills and instill a sense of pride and discipline in them. A total of 104 cadets from around the state attended this year's encampment, including 13 cadets and three officers from the Martinsburg (W.Va.

A Confederate Civil War Living History encampment will be held at the Jonathan Hager House on Key Street in Hagerstown City Park on Saturday and Sunday, April 24 and 25, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event features the 3rd Arkansas Volunteer Infantry. Visitors to the camp site can learn how Confederates lived during the Civil War, including clothing, weapons and attitudes toward Northerners. Several drilling routines will take place, and the re-enactors can answer questions about the campaigns that the 3rd Arkansas Volunteers were involved in, including the Battle of Antietam.

"Semper Vigilans" is the motto of the Civil Air Patrol. It means, in Latin, "Always Vigilant. " This motto played an important role in the West Virginia Wing Summer Encampment at Camp Dawson, because some of the activities can be quite dangerous. After all, Camp Dawson, located near Kingwood, W.Va., is the training base for the West Virginia National Guard and Army Special Forces. I'm a member of the Martinsburg Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol (CAP), based in Martinsburg, W.Va.

John Hughes of Fairfax, Va., portrays a French militiaman at a French and Indian War Living History encampment Saturday at the Jonathan Hager House and Museum in Hagerstown's City Park.

167th Airlift Wing thanked for showing support at Civil Air Patrol's encampment MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - On Aug. 27, two sections of the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard were recognized for their support to the West Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. Over the past several years, the 167th's Life Support Section and the Security Forces Squadron have generously provided instructors for the West Virginia Wing's Summer Encampment, held annually at Camp Dawson, Kingwood, W.Va.

The Hagerstown Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol had a very active summer. During June, 14 cadets assisted with the Reading (Pa.) Air Show and several cadets attended encampments. Encampments are usually one week and are meant to enhance leadership skills and aerospace knowledge. Colby Robinson, Brenden Roberts and Zoe Garcia attended the Tri-Wing encampment and Michael DiMercio attended the West Virginia encampment. Several events happened during the month of July. Four cadets, Colby Robinson, Kyle Lahr, Stephen Spinder, and J.R. Paterno attended Leadership Academy at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.

WAYNESBORO, Pa. -- "Battle" conditions seem to have improved in the past 146 years. The living historians participating in the 30th annual encampment and battles at Renfrew Park this weekend took great strides to be authentic. But there are certain advantages now to participation, including ice, handheld radios for coordination, and a golf cart to carry the victorious colonel off the battlefield. Still, driving hours on hot days to sleep in tents, dress in wool, and, for women, walk barefoot across manure-strewn fields doesn't appeal to everyone.

Unless otherwise noted, Boonsboro events at Shafer Park and Funkstown events at Funkstown Community Park. Friday, May 15 4 to 7 p.m. Turkey supper - Mount Calvary Church of God, U.S. 40, Clear Spring. Cost is $6.50 for adults; $3 for children ages 6 to 10; free for children younger than 5. Turkey and all the trimmings. 6 p.m. Wagon Train - begins at Mount Calvary Church. There will be an overnight encampment and entertainment. 7 to 8:30 p.m. In Boonsboro - Period music by organist Jack Staley.

In what was called “a good day for dying,” re-enactors descended Sunday afternoon on the meadow at Renfrew Park for a generic Civil War battle. The mild temperatures and scattered clouds proved advantageous. Organizer Don Biesecker said when a re-enactor “dies” on a hot day, it can be unbearable to lie face up with the summer sun overhead. “It's a good day for dying,” Biesecker said of the weather. Biesecker has been at the helm of the weekend encampment held at Renfrew Park for the past 22 of its 34 years.

1. Soldiers on both sides Scott Hipp will discuss the regimental histories of units organized in the Washington County area and serving in either Confederate or Union armies. Hipp is the author of “Old Line Divided: Maryland in the Civil War: Volume I: Antebellum to 1862. 11 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 11, at Boonsboro Free Library, 401 Potomac St., Boonsboro. Call 301-432-5723 or email bns@washcolibrary.org . 2. Battle of Shiloh Civil War re-enactment featuring the Battle of Shiloh.

Marshall Miller stood on the mountaintop vigorously waving a flag atop a hefty flag staff. "One. Two. Two. One," his father, John Miller, called off behind him. The elder Miller, historian for South Mountain State Battlefield, was dictating a code used by Union soldiers during the Civil War to send messages to far-off soldiers within view. Each combination of numbers represented a letter, and ultimately spelled out a message. Marshall, 14, was assisting his father in a signal corps demonstration at Behind the Line of Battle: Communications and Overlooks, a living history encampment Saturday at Washington Monument State Park east of Boonsboro.

Gunfire popped Sunday afternoon during a re-enacted Civil War battle that closed a weekend encampment at Renfrew Park. Cream-colored tents dotted the park's forested areas for the annual encampment. “Where we camp out is very nice. ... The battles are really good. It's a calm, easy event,” said Ronald Carstetter, an Arendtsville, Pa., resident who participated in the battle with the 24th North Carolina Co. B. Spectators lined a stone wall for the generic battle that followed a period church service.

KINGWOOD, W.Va. - The West Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol recently completed its annual cadet summer encampment at Camp Dawson, an Army National Guard training facility in Kingwood. The weeklong event is held each year in order to give the CAP cadets a greater understanding of CAP and its Air Force missions and capabilities, develop the cadets' leadership skills, enhance their interpersonal and time management skills and instill a sense of pride and discipline in them. A total of 104 cadets from around the state attended this year's encampment, including 13 cadets and three officers from the Martinsburg (W.Va.

"Semper Vigilans" is the motto of the Civil Air Patrol. It means, in Latin, "Always Vigilant. " This motto played an important role in the West Virginia Wing Summer Encampment at Camp Dawson, because some of the activities can be quite dangerous. After all, Camp Dawson, located near Kingwood, W.Va., is the training base for the West Virginia National Guard and Army Special Forces. I'm a member of the Martinsburg Composite Squadron Civil Air Patrol (CAP), based in Martinsburg, W.Va.

167th Airlift Wing thanked for showing support at Civil Air Patrol's encampment MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - On Aug. 27, two sections of the 167th Airlift Wing of the West Virginia Air National Guard were recognized for their support to the West Virginia Wing of the Civil Air Patrol. Over the past several years, the 167th's Life Support Section and the Security Forces Squadron have generously provided instructors for the West Virginia Wing's Summer Encampment, held annually at Camp Dawson, Kingwood, W.Va.

MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - Cadet Lt. Col. Mark R. Guiney and Lt. Col. Robert V. Mills were selected by the Civil Air Patrol to participate in the International Air Cadet Exchange Program. Guiney traveled to the Netherlands while Mills escorted a group of cadets to Canada July 18 to Aug. 5. The program gives about 70 CAP cadets and 16 adult escorts an opportunity to serve as ambassadors by visiting participating foreign countries and promoting international friendship and understanding through a common focus on aviation.

The Hagerstown Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol had a very active summer. During June, 14 cadets assisted with the Reading (Pa.) Air Show and several cadets attended encampments. Encampments are usually one week and are meant to enhance leadership skills and aerospace knowledge. Colby Robinson, Brenden Roberts and Zoe Garcia attended the Tri-Wing encampment and Michael DiMercio attended the West Virginia encampment. Several events happened during the month of July. Four cadets, Colby Robinson, Kyle Lahr, Stephen Spinder, and J.R. Paterno attended Leadership Academy at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina.