On Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, acclaimed stage and screen actor, playwright and author Stephen Lang will hold an in-person book signing for his book The Wheatfield in the Museum Book Store at the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum & Visitor Center.
As part of the events surrounding the annual Dedication Day and Remembrance Day weekend, Lang will sign copies of his Gettysburg-inspired book The Wheatfield, as well as The Gettysburg Story: Battlefield Auto Tour in which he voiced the narrative. Lang’s book signing is scheduled from 2-3 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 18.
A story of sacrifice, courage and selflessness, Lang’s first book for young readers, The Wheatfield, tells of Union Soldier and Medal of Honor recipient, James Jackson Purman, as he vividly recalls the Battle of Gettysburg and his fateful encounters in the Wheatfield in July 1863. Returning to Gettysburg 50 years after the battle, Purman and other battle-weary Civil War veterans gather in harmony, stripping away their former allegiances to north and south in hopes of peaceful fellowship. Featuring Lang’s poetic writing and powerful illustrations by the young artists The Bros. Smith (Alex and Adrian), the book is aimed to delight readers young and old.
Patrons of the Gettysburg Museum Book Store on Nov. 18 have the opportunity to purchase in store Lang’s works for signing. The Wheatfield is available in the Museum Book Store, in the Museum & Visitor Center, located at 1195 Baltimore Pike, Gettysburg, Pa. A portion of the proceeds benefit the education and preservation mission of the Gettysburg Foundation.
On Friday, Nov. 19, 2021, Lang will appear at the Dedication Day ceremonies in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Lang will join the ceremonies on the rostrum to present the Gettysburg Address.
Hosted by the Lincoln Fellowship of Pennsylvania since 1938, and co-sponsored again this year by Gettysburg National Military Park, Gettysburg College and the Gettysburg Foundation, the Dedication Day ceremonies include a program in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to their nation and to recall the words of President Abraham Lincoln. The details surrounding the Dedication Day ceremonies are available at LincolnFellowship.org.
A longtime advocate of all things Gettysburg, Gettysburg National Military Park, the Gettysburg Foundation and the town of Gettysburg itself, in 2019, Lang received the inaugural Kinsley Award presented by the Gettysburg Foundation to an individual or organization exemplifying Abraham Lincoln’s vision of a humble, civil and inclusive society.
Lang is known for his roles on Broadway as Colonel Jessup in A Few Good Men, Happy Loman in Death of a Salesman, and a Tony-nominated performance as Lou in The Speed of Darkness. An award-winning playwright, Lang is also known for his performance documentary Beyond Glory, which tracks the ten-year odyssey behind his acclaimed solo performance piece about eight Medal of Honor recipients, which he continues to tour around the country.
Lang's many films include Last Exit to Brooklyn, Tombstone, Gods and Generals, Public Enemies, Don’t Breathe, Avatar, and an unforgettable performance as Major General George E. Pickett in the 1993 film Gettysburg. Lang recently reprised his role as The Blind Man in Don’t Breathe 2, which opened in movie theaters August 2021. He reprises his starring role as Colonel Quaritch in James Cameron’s upcoming Avatar sequels beginning in 2022.