The original Medal of Honor (left) awarded to Civil War general Joshua Chamberlain was donated to the Pejepscot Historical Society in Brunswick, and the updated Medal of Honor given to Joshua Chamberlain (right), redesigned in 1904, and held by the George J. Mitchell Department of Special Collections & Archives at Bowdoin College.
A rare reunion is set to take place Wednesday, July 2, as Civil War general Joshua Chamberlain’s original Medal of Honor, owned by the Pejepscot Historical Society, will be displayed alongside its redesigned replacement, owned by the College. The exhibition of the two medals takes place between 3 p.m. and 4 p.m. at the Joshua L. Chamberlain Museum in Brunswick.
Representatives from Brunswick’s Post Office will be on site at the Chamberlain Museum 3-5 p.m. to sell Medal of Honor stamps and offer a special one-day-only Chamberlain pictorial cancellation.
The cancellation, designed by Pejepscot Historical Society and approved by the United States Postal Service, celebrates Chamberlain’s distinguished service in the Civil War and the 151st anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg, for actions at which Chamberlain received his own Medal of Honor.
Performers from Maine State Music Theatre will be on hand singing standards. Throughout the day on July 2, guests showing ticket stubs from Maine State Music Theatre’s performance of “Chamberlain: A Civil War Romance” will receive 50% off admission at the Chamberlain Museum. “Chamberlain: A Civil War Romance” runs June 25 through July 12. A short program will take place at 3:30 pm. More on the history of the medals here.
