Lincoln and the Soldiers' National Cemetery at Gettysburg - Ranger John Hoptak 

An excellent speaker. No "ums" or other pauses. No notes. He knows his stuff and relays it with enthusiasm and without hesitation to the audience. The park rangers are true professionals.

Mr. Hoptak - I stumbled on this video in my quest to hear more about the Gettysburg Battle. What a privilege it was to hear your amazing speech. It was enlightening, interesting and emotional at the same time. You are a major credit to the park rangers of this great country.

I love this park ranger. Really puts everything into his presentation. You can tell he really cares about what he's teaching.

Mr Hoptak is truly a class act - you really can't ask for a better tour guide. I can't wait to visit Gettysburg

Superb. The explanation of the Gettysburg Address is something ALL Americans need to hear. Cherish and learn from that war. It changed our destiny.

Gettysburg is an amazing place to visit. Walking the battlefields and identifying iconic landmarks, while listening to the deafening silence, is absolutely spine-tingling.

I need to add that the exposition on the Gettysburg Address starting at 36:50 is the finest short summary I've heard on this speech/document in my 67 years. TYVVM.

John Hoptak, I'll remember that name. Without a doubt the finest presentation I've ever heard from a park ranger anywhere. Bravo! I visit Gettysburg often. I hope my next visit finds you doing more of the same. It would be a pleasure to experience your professionalism in person. I will inquire as to your schedule at the Visitors Center.

An absolutely marvelous presentation from a extremely knowledgeable park ranger. Very inspirational.

Amazing how well he brings Spiney White to life and the great speakers in 1863. He is a great orator himself!

I have been on a few of Ranger Hoptak's tours throughout the battlefield over the past few years, each of them, and I must say, all the other Ranger walking tours were nothing short of outstanding. From the 32:58 mark till the 35:40th only resonates the feeling and passion as Americans we all share for Pres. Lincoln's words on that day. Ranger Hoptak Bravo Zulu

Wow , an excellent educator and narrator!

Great historians make the best storytellers. Awesome job Mr. Hoptak

All these Rangers would and prolly could be awesome college professors very well spoken.....I would most likely fold like a lawn chair if asked to give a speech....It’s truly a gift I believe

That was such a good presentation. So informative.

Fantastic program. Excellent presentation. I was hooked and paying attention right away.

Bless God ...Good job speaker and videographer ...thank you from Saginaw Mich. and Binghamton NY and thankyou Jesus

Fabulous account - great presentation. I agree - you're a great credit to rangerdom.

The NPS is an extraordinary organization. Period.

Time well spent.

Awesome..

Well done- Abe would be proud

Thank you... too bad there are those today that do not honor history...

As for the exact location of the speaker's platform on the day of the cemetery's dedication, it seems as though there is another (more likely) spot. Anyone interested in a great read, check out LINCOLN'S GETTYSBURG DECLARATION by Louis A. Warren. In it, on page 182, he states, "Recently [book was written in 1964] there has been discovered documentary evidence of the exact site where the speakers' stand was constructed, its dimensions and the direction it faced". Warren produces a copy of a memorandum by W.Y. Selleck, secretary of Soldiers' National Cemetery Commission, who states, "The stand...was 12 ft. wide and 20 ft. long and facing to the northwest of the outer circle of soldiers' graves as shown by pencil mark on the cemetery map in the book to which this memorandum is attached". Where is this mark on the map? STRAIGHT NORTH of the monument, approximately 300 feet away from it [from the monument, walk north on the path between the Delaware & Rhode Island gravesites until you reach just beyond the outer circle of graves]. Not 150 feet southeast as Ranger Hoptak (and other rangers I've heard) surmise. The platform, states Selleck, was facing northwest, which means the large crowd would have gathered across the road, away from the gravesites that had been freshly placed there not long before.

How was The Polar Express Theme Song Go John Hoptak

What are you doing this weekend John Hoptak

Hi John Hoptak

Why Not Next Summer John Hoptak

Could You Teach Me The Gaston Song 1862-1863

Andrew Curtin President Abraham Lincoln and Me

John Hoptak Vincent Van Gogh Immersive Museum Exhibition

Just for curiosity's sake, that $2,500, based on the value of the dollar in 1913 (the first year available on my inflation calculator) would be over $63,600 in March 2018. One can bet heavily that they'd never get it for less than $150/acre though.

John Hoptak

President Abraham Lincoln and

Get rid of the sin and corruption only then will there sacrifice be worth it.

Maybe someone passing through here can answer this but why were so many of the Confederate soldiers listed as unknown? Were the confederate records bad enough that they did not know who they lost during the battle?

Is there any such thing as a " Just War " ?

Me

President John F Kennedy

Confederate dead were eventually removed from the Gettysburg battlefield. All monuments to Confederates should also be removed.