Scouts and leaders of Troop 401 in Sidney traveled last month from Maine to Colonial Williamsburg, Gettysburg, the James River Plantation, Fort McHenry and the home of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The group included Willie, Zack and Parker LeHay and Gabe Steinberger from Oakland. Dan and Issac Allarie, Dawson White, and Jeremy Croft are from Sidney.

Scoutmaster Eric Handley said, “These Scout truly hiked through history,” according to a news release from Chuck Mahaleris, district vice chairman for Kennebec Valley District of Scouting.

White was surprised at the sheer size of the battlefield in Gettysburg, and what it was like fighting in those conditions in wool uniforms. Parker LeHay said it was interesting to walk through the same places that the soldiers did.

One of the highlights was the visit to the 20th Maine Monument at Little Round Top, almost to the day when the action took place 159 years ago and soldiers from Maine turned the tide of the Civil War.

Isaac Allarie said, “It’s amazing how far the soldiers had to walk to get there in the heat and how many of them died.” Zack LeHay was impressed with how long the battle lines were and how far they walked — particularly Pickett’s Charge.

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