June 27, 2022
Author Bruce E. Mowday takes part
in National Bell Ringing Day on July 4 and
four events during Gettysburg anniversary
Mowday gives Lafayette talk for Paoli Battlefield on July 12
WEST CHESTER, PA. _ July is a busy month for author Bruce E. Mowday as he is taking part in National Bell Ringing Day ceremonies on July 4 and three events in Gettysburg during the anniversary of the pivotal engagement of the Civil War.
“I was honored to be asked to give a presentation during the National Bell Ringing Day event,” Mowday said. “The tradition began with President John F. Kennedy proclaiming July 4 as the day to remember the ringing of the bell to announce the signing of the Declaration of Independence.”
The event begins at 1:30 p.m. on July 4 at the Unionville Presbyterian Church, 815 Wollaston Road, Kennett Square. The ringing of the bells takes place at 2:00 p.m. Mowday will speak on Lafayette and his contributions to America’s freedom. Mowday’s latest book is Lafayette at Brandywine: The Making of an American Hero.
Mowday will speak on Lafayette and his book on July 12 at The General Warren inne, 9 Old Lancaster Road, Malvern, beginning at 6:00 p.m. The talk is part of the Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund speakers’ series. Reservations are required. Call The General Warren at 610.296.3637 for reservations.
“Lafayette risked his life, his family and the wrath of his king to help us win our freedom from England,” Mowday said. “His deeds need to be remembered.”
Mowday has written three books on Gettysburg and he will be in the town on Saturday, July 2 and Sunday, July 3. The Civil War battle took place on July 1, 2 and 3, 1863. He will sign books on July 2 at the Gettysburg Travel Center, 778 Baltimore Street, from 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. On July 3, his book signings will take place 11 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. at the Jennie Wade House, 548 Baltimore Street, and at the Farnsworth House Inn, 401 Baltimore Street, from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 p.m.
On Sunday 4:30 p.m. at the Gettysburg Heritage Center, 297 Steinwehr Avenue, Mowday and artist Karl J. Kuerner will give a presentation on their book Emotional Gettysburg. Kuerner, the only artist personally instructed by Andrew Wyeth and his sister, painted 20 original creations for the book and Mowday wrote essays.
“This book is all about emotions,” said renowned artist Karl J. Kuerner. “The strong feelings emanating from the hallowed ground of Gettysburg is the foundation of this book. Few places exist in the world emit the sensitive energy that is found at Gettysburg.” The book combines today’s rich landscapes with the Pennsylvania town’s Civil War history.
One reader said she would never look at Gettysburg the same after reading Emotional Gettysburg. Other comments include, “Mr. Mowday, I just read Emotional Gettysburg cover to cover. There are thousands of books about Gettysburg, some are all text, and some have photos. Photos rarely capture emotion. Karl’s paintings bring emotion and detail so much that I could feel the moment, smell the air and hear the sounds. Congratulations on creating a truly new vision of Gettysburg.” Also, “Thoroughly appreciating Emotional Gettysburg. It places you there with sadness over so many hopeful, dedicated, young lives snuffed out in a moment, forever gone, with the whisper of a bullet.” And, “Kudos to both of you for creating an emotional treasure.”
Mowday’s other Gettysburg books include Pickett’s Charge: The Untold Story and J. Howard Wert’s Gettysburg. Mowday has written more than 20 books on history, true crime, business and sports. For more information, see www.mowday.com. To order signed copies, contact the author at mowday@mowday.com.
“Gettysburg is so rich in history in so many ways,” Mowday commented. “Lives were impacted, as seen in Emotional Gettysburg. The Union’s brave heroes of Pickett’s Charge, overlooked for years, are detailed in my Pickett’s Charge book. And a wonderful collection of artifacts, including the podium used by President Lincoln at his Gettysburg Address, is depicted in the Wert book. The assembly represents the largest private collection of artifacts from Gettysburg.
Mowday will return on Gettysburg on July 23 with author Charlene Briggs, who wrote a book about her father’s experiences in World War II, to present a program on Gettysburg and the Legacy of War: A Perpetual Assault. Mowday and Briggs will combine information from their books to look at PTSD. Craig Caba, curator of the Wert Collection, will take part. The presentation hosted by the Gettysburg Foundation will take place Saturday, July 23 at the Spangler Farm, 488 Blacksmith Shop Road, from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
In July, Mowday will give a presentation on his Johnston gang true crime books on July 20 at 7:00 p.m. at Jenner’s Pond, 2000 Greenbriar Lane, West Grove. Barricade Publishing has published Jailing the Johnston Gang: Bringing Serial Murderers to Justice and Stealing Wyeth. In August Schiffer Publishing is releasing his book on the murders of Kennett Square policemen Willian Davis and Richard Posey, Small-Town Cops in the Crosshairs.