A War of 1812 veteran, city constable and well-known eccentric of Gettysburg, John Burns tries to enlist, but is turned down twice because of his age. It is the 69-year-old’s willingness to fight on July 1st that propels him into the national spotlight. Burns is shot at least three times yet survives. Recovering at home, he becomes a local celebrity visited by many, including President Abraham Lincoln. A bronze statue now immortalizes Burns as a Gettysburg patriot.
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