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45th Annual National Packard Club National Meet

2010 National Meet

Sunday Early Bird Tour.

This will be a qualifying tour for judging eligibility. We will tour from the Eisenhower Convention Hotel to the city of Frederick MD. The route will be over back roads and cross three covered bridges in Frederick County.

There will be an expert to tell you about the bridges. The tours eventual destination will be the Monocacy Battlefield. This battle saw the awarding of more Medals Of Honor than any other in the war. This is a little known but pivotal battlefield in the Civil War. Jubal Early's confederate army was delayed an entire day here trying to force a crossing of the Monocacy River.

This enabled the Union Forces in Washington D.C. to arm the bakers and cooks and man the forts of Reno and Stevens located inside the District line. The battle that took place at Fort Stevens, just below what is now Walter Reed Army Hospital, in the city, stopped Early and forced his retreat, saving the capital city from capture.

After your visit at the battle field, you will be free to visit The Civil War Medical Museum in Frederick or if you wish, visit the many, many, antique shops, and fine restaurants located in town. Dinner and travel back to Gettysburg will be on your own.

Monday

We will depart the Eisenhower Hotel for the second of our qualifying tours. This will be over back roads to the Antietam Battlefield. This is also known, in the South, as The Battle of Sharpsburg. This was the site of the bloodiest day of the war. There were horrific casualties on both sides. It was enough of a victory for the north, to enable President Lincoln to issue the Emancipation Proclamation. This allows history rewriters to have a field day.

We will be able to hear the Park Service Historian give the high lights of the battle and aftermath. Luncheon will be a short drive across the Potomac River to the State of West Virginia and The Bavarian Inn. The planned route back to Gettysburg takes us past the historic town of Harpers Ferry, or you may choose to retrace your steps and return the way you came.

Monday Evening will see the Welcoming Reception. This will be held at the Gettysburg Welcome Center. We will have the entire place for our evening. You will see the film about the battle, you will get to see the World Famous Cyclorama and hear the talk, you will be able to visit the artifacts museum, and visit the outstanding book shop.

We will also feed you. There will be a catered picnic supper. This is a significant event. It will set the tone of the entire week. When you leave there you will have a strong base for the rest of the tours of the battlefield and surrounding countryside.

Tuesday

There will be guided tours of the battlefield, and General,and President Eisenhower's retirement home. These tours will run through the day, and we will be returning to the visitor center to change busses. Dinner will be on your own this evening. The TPO,(Tomorrows Packard Owners) will have a pool and pizza party.

Wednesday

We have set Wednesday aside for meetings and seminars, of which others have elaborated on. There will be, for those who wish, a third qualifying tour. This will be a tour from the Eisenhower Center to The Civil War Museum in Harrisburg .

After your tour of the museum you will drive to the AACA Museum in Hershey. There you will enjoy a sumptuous lunch and tour of the collection. After which you may visit Chocolate World or return to Gettysburg. There will be a Bar-B-Q this evening after which, Mr Jim Balfour will hold a session on the Packard factory. It's sad, but a must see.

Thursday

Judging will take place on the grounds of the Lutheran Seminary in downtown Gettysburg. This is a beautifully treed lawn. Lunch will be available from the Seminary as well as shuttle service to shopping for those who wish. There will also be talks from the Historic Society as well as an organ concert for your listening enjoyment.

Friday

There will see a motor coach tour for those who wish ,to Harpers Ferry West Virginia. This will be a guide led coach trip. You will be given the historic facts about the town and it's place in civil war history. And for those who were in meetings all day on Wednesday, if you desire, there will be a coach trip to Harrisburg for the Civil War Museum and then to the AACA Museum in Hershey. Both tours will return in time for the Awards Banquet that evening.



Saturday

We will say good by at an informal breakfast.

Bill: Thanks for posting the weekly schedule of the 2010 National Meet.

I will become a new member of PAC this coming 2010. On that Wednesday of the meet, I am most interested in attending the meetings and seminars put on by the club. Is there a schedule out as to what times the meetings and seminars will take place.


John F. Shireman

Yes John, go to the PAC website and click on the 2010 National, and among the choices you'll find the activities schedule.

Additional photos taken by Mike Grimes have been posted in the photo area.

Thanks to Mike for sending these over.