What Are Witness Trees?
Witness Trees are those that stood during the Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Though it is documented that at least one hundred, if not more, Witness Trees remain standing on the battlefield today, it is uncertain whether any wood from these trees will eventually be available to Gettysburg Sentinels. The Witness Tree wood used for our products has been legally acquired from third parties, including the Gettysburg Foundation.
To learn more about these trees and their locations, we've partnered with Peter Lukacs, the leading expert on Gettysburg Witness Trees. You can find the first book in his Gettysburg Witness Tree series here.
Gettysburg Sentinels was founded in 2007 by retired Army Lt. Colonel William D. Hewitt to afford the opportunity for those who cherish the history of the Battle of Gettysburg to own products made of the wood of trees harvested from those sacred grounds.
In early 2022, Colonel Hewitt sold Gettysburg Sentinels to long-time friend and fellow woodworker, Greg Allen. Greg and his wife Tina have lived in an historic house on Chambersburg Road just west of the Gettysburg Battlefield since 1986.