USS Gettysburg sailors visit Gettysburg to honor those who served before them

A group of sailors stationed on the USS Gettysburg visited the borough this week to connect with and honor U.S. veterans.

• Haley O'Brien/WITF
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  Haley O'Brien joined WITF in 2026. A native of Scranton, she enjoys exploring Pennsylvania's diverse communities. Haley previously worked at NPR/PBS stations in Northeast Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley, and has won awards for video storytelling and beat reporting.

As nine U.S. sailors restored veterans’ grave sites at the Gettysburg National Cemetery, Lt. Jason Daughtry considered the stories of the people buried there. 

“They all were at a place eventually where they were willing to sacrifice their comfort for the greater good of their brothers and sisters in America,” he said Friday morning. 

The sailors, all from different parts of the country, are stationed on the USS Gettysburg, a Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser ported in Norfolk, Virginia. 

“It means a lot to be here and honor those people that have fallen and served before us and be able to give something back to them,” said Ensign Timothy Kolb Jr., the ship’s public affairs officer. 

The sailors assigned to the USS Gettysburg learn about the historical significance of the 1863 Battle of Gettysburg and its significance in the Civil War. 

“The flag of [Gettysburg] is actually displayed on our command ball caps,” Kolb said. “We have to learn the symbolism of that. The three stars are representing the three days of the battle.“ 

The group spent three days in the Adams County borough doing service projects and engaging with the community. 

Fire Controlman 2nd Class Petty Officer Ethan Tuuk enjoyed meeting local veterans at the VFW.  

“Those guys were awesome. I sat with those guys for four hours,” he said. “We were chit-chatting, talking about prior service. I found a couple Navy guys, a couple Army guys.“ 

Daughtry, chaplain on the ship, says the visit offers more than a connection to the vessel’s namesake. 

“Coming here is so valuable to us because it’s not only celebrating our history and honoring those who’ve gone before us in this great country,” he said. “But what really hits us is when you start seeing the human element, that it is the same element yesterday as it is today. Inner conflict, social relations, it’s the same thing. 

“If I can identify with the Civil War of Gettysburg, men and women who sacrificed their lives for me and my future, I’m much more likely to do the same today,” he said.