Pilibos entered a time warp when the Social Studies Department sponsored a ‘living history’ presentation by Civil War Re-enactors, Lt. Zane Smith and Sgt. Mike Rogers of the 116th Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Irish Brigade. They were assisted in their endeavors by Private Evan Sermeno and civilian Meaghan Sermeno. All were dressed in clothes designed to fit in the year of 1863. The presentation was seen by the 5th, 8th and 11th grade U.S. History classes.

During the talk, students heard about the hardships that civil war soldiers endured, from long marches to poor food. They also learned about the medical conditions for wounded soldiers, the weapons that were used, and the supplies they carried. Miss Meaghan talked about the clothes women wore in the 1860s and how they supported the troops who were fighting to end slavery. Finally, boys who volunteered from the audience got to put on a soldier’s backpack and girls were able to dress up in a long dress and hoop skirts.

Lt. Smith and Sgt. Rogers were very impressed with the behavior of the Pilibos students and the questions that they asked. They hope that the students learned much about this important era of U.S. history and will listen closely to their teachers when they talk about the Civil War!