SCHOOL VISITS AND LECTURES
Legion XXIV has made many visits to local schools, and some schools not so local, enhancing the learning experiences of students, young and old. Teachers from other classes and even Principals, have often come-in to witness these "Show and Tell" presentations. The students relish the opportunity to try on the helmets and form battle lines with the shields and engage in forming a "testudo" (turtle) formation, as was done by Roman Legionaries many centuries ago.
The demonstration and lecture is done in period attire and deals with the life of the Roman soldier, the weapons he used, methods of battle and the origins and formations if the Roman Legions, as well as some discussion on the heritage of Ancient Rome to modern society. Questions are answered and asked of the students during and after the session. If time permits, the students may try on the helmets and armor.
Views of some of these visitations are shown below.
A minimum of one full class period of 50 minutes or more (preferably more) is required to do justice to the topic and to allow some time for questions and examination of the equipment. Combining two class periods and/or class groups is suggested and recommended. The lecture is most effective if the students have already studied Ancient Rome at least up through the Republican Period. Some exposure to Latin is also beneficial.
Valley Forge Military Academy, in Wayne PA, of which the Commander is an Alumnus (Class of 1959), has invited Legion XXIV to return for a number years to demonstrate the heritage and tactics of the Ancient Roman Army to the future military leaders being trained at the Academy. - Photo courtesy of the VFMA Photo Dept.
An auditorium, library area or large classroom with ample space in front or a "horseshoe" or "in the round" seating arrangement is recommended. About twelve feet of table space or stage front is also requested for the display of the equipment. The demonstration space should be available at least 30 minutes prior to the time of the demonstration to allow for the set-up and preparation of the displays, etc. A number of available Roman Army Recruits (students) is always welcome to assist in moving the equipment to and from the presentation area. Travel time to your location from Newtown Square PA, 15 miles west of Philadelphia, and 30 minutes of set-up time should be considered in scheduling early morning presentations.
Commander Gallio Marsallas gives an explanation as the students of the Pennington Day School in Pennington, NJ form a testudo formation with the seven "scuta" (shields) supplied by Legion XXIV and the cardboard shields made by the students. About 20 students from the assembly of 50 took part in this exercise on January 21, 2004. At Right - A student tries on Lorica Segmentata body armor.
PLEASE NOTE -The demonstration involves the display of real functional weapons of iron and steel. You may want to advise your school office that such items are being brought onto the school property. Wood swords are provided for use by the students during the demonstration.
Commander Gallio leads students in forming a "Testudo" (turtle) formation of "Scutum" (shields).
For additional information or to schedule a demonstration, please contact the Praefectus/Commander at www.legionxxiv.org or 610-353-4982. I am retired, so most any weekday is available by mutual agreement.
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SCHOOL CAMPAIGNS OF LEGION XXIV
2 0 1 2
Feb. 07 Council Rock High School - South, Holland / South Hampton, PA Erin Parfitt
June 01 Lower Macungie Middle School, Macungie, PA Deborah Lichtenwainer
2 0 1 1
Aug 16 Penn Museum, Univ. of Penna. Philadelphia - History Summer Camp
2 0 1 0
Mar 29 National Constitution Center, Philadelphia Francesca Reynolds
Apr 10 Rutgers University of N.J., Piscataway, NJ
Aug 04 Veritas Academy, Leola, PA Chris Walker
Aug 18 Penn Museum, Univ. of Penna. Philadelphia - History Summer Camp Jennifer Reifsteck
2 0 0 9
May 21 Elkton Middle School, Elkton, MD Michael Hinton
July 08 Chris Walker Lancaster, PA
July 24 Carnegie Museum, Pittsburgh, PA Zee Poerio
Nov 03 Highland High School, Warrington, VA Sara Roach
Dec 08 Haverford School, Haverford, PA Emily Hulme
2 0 0 8
Mar 07 Ethel Hoppock Middle School, Asbury NJ Matthew Esposito
Apr 24 Council Rock High School North, Newtown, PA Barbara Cavenaugh
May 07 Council Rock High School North, Newtown, PA Barbara Cavenaugh
2 0 0 7
Feb. 27 Wardlaw Hartridge K-12 School, Edison, NJ Joan Anthony
May 14 Harrisburg Academy, Wormleysburg, PA Heather Jorgenson
Oct. 22 South Regional HS, Manahawkin NJ, 2 sessions Bob Johnson, 609-597-5498
2 0 0 6
Feb.
14 Lancaster County Day School, Travis O'Gorman
Feb. 15
Princeton Day School, Amy Beckford,
Mar. 22 Heritage HS, Leesburg VA, Mike Krepich, 571-215-6792
May 2 Clearview Regional HS, Mullica Hill NJ Martha Pearlman
May 22 Renaissance School, Montclair NJ Nahum Prasarn
July 19 Univ-PA Summer Camp Program, Philadelphia
July 24 Project Forward Leap, Millersville Univ. Millersville PA
Oct 19 South Regional HS, Manahawkin NJ, Bob Johnson, 609-597-5498
Nov 9 Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne PA, 6 sessions Phil Townsend, 800-234-8362
Oct 30 South Regional HS, Manahawkin NJ, 7 sessions Bob Johnson, 609-597-5498
2 0 0 5
Jan. 11 Bala Cynwyd Middle School, PA, Noelle Samulewicz, 610-664-4500
Feb. 15 & 16 - Princeton Day School, Princeton NJ, Amy Beckford, 609-468-4322 abeckford@pds.org
April
11 ET Richardson School, Springfield
PA
April
27 Lancaster County
Day School, PA, Leslie Blythe
May 4 Council Rock HS, Newtown PA, Barb Cavenaugh
May
11 Academy of New Church, Bryn Athen PA, Gail Cooper, 267-502-2552
May
17 Egg
Harbor Township Classical League, Egg Harbor NJ,
Misty Kammerman 609-226-8436
May 17 - Atlantic City High School Latin Club, Atlantic City, NJ, Misty Kammerman, 609-226-8436
May 19 Neshaminy Middle School, Langhorne PA, Barbara Epting, 215-752-3600
July
28 Millersville Univ.
Summer Camp,
Lancaster PA, Diana
Collins, 717-871-5986, 717-341-4025
Nov 19 Roman Display, Central-Dauphin HS Rich Hower, 717-651-1197
Dec.
7 Valley
Forge Military Academy, Wayne PA, 6 sessions Phil Townsend,
800-234-8362
Dec.
16
Academy
New Church, Bryn Athyn, Gail Cooper 267-502-2552
2 0 0 4
Jan.
21
- Pennington School, NJ,
Randy Beckford
Feb.
7
- Boy Scouts, Meeting House Hill School, New Fairfield CT
Feb. 10 - Princeton Day School, Princeton NJ, Amy Beckford, abeckford@pds.org
April
8 -
Saint
Mary's Hall, Burlington NJ, Oliver Morris, 267-973-5967
April
15 - Community Evangelical Free Church, Elverson
PA
April 19 - Lancaster County Day School, Lancaster PA, Leslie Blythe
May 12 - Neshaminy Middle School, Langhorne PA, Barbara Epting, 215-752-3600
July
22
- Millersville Univ.
Summer Camp,
Lancaster PA, Diana
Collins, 717-871-5986, 717-341-4025
July 23 - Roman-Gladiator Demonstration, Univ-PA Museum Summer School, Philadelphia, Bonnie Wright
Nov.
19
- West
Chester PA
East High School, Janet Booze
Nov.
23
- Valley
Forge Military Academy, Wayne PA, 6 sessions Phil Townsend,
800-234-8362
Dec. 17 - Bala Cynwyd Middle School, Noelle Samulewicz, 610-645-1800
2 0 0 3
Feb.
26
- Exeter HS, Reading
PA, Mike Kitsock, 610-779-3060
April
3 - Alverna College, Reading
PA, Mike Kitsock, 610-779-3060
April 3 - Academy of New Church, Bryn Athen PA, Gail Cooper, 267-502-2552
April 9 - High School, Mullica Hill NJ
April 23 - Lancaster County Day School, Lancaster PA, Leslie Blythe
May
6
- Council Rock HS North, Newtown PA, Barb Cavenaugh
May 12 - Neshaminy Middle School, Langhorne PA, Barbara Epting, 215-752-3600
May 15 - Henderson School, West Chester PA, Janet Boosz, 738-9102-H
May
20
- Dunbar School, Philadelphia,
Gloria, 215-755-5686H, 215-684-5065S
July 18 - Roman-Gladiator Demonstration, Univ-PA Museum Summer School, Philadelphia, Bonnie Wright
July
24
- Millersville Univ.
Summer Camp,
Lancaster PA, Diana
Collins, 717-871-5986
Nov. 14 - Academy of New Church, Bryn Athen PA, Gail Cooper, 267-502-2552
Dec. 10 - Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne PA, 6 sessions Phil Townsend
Dec. 12 - Bala Cynwyd Middle School, PA, Hegeman, 610-664-4500 x304
2 0 0 2
Feb. 4 - Academy of New Church, Bryn Athen PA, Gail Cooper, 267-502-2552
Feb. 14 - Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne PA, Phil Townsend, 800-234-8362
May 17 - Neshaminy Middle School, Langhorne PA, Barbara Epting, 215-752-3600
May 31 - Neshaminy Middle School, Langhorne PA, Debra Deacon, 215-752-3600
Nov. 15 - Bala Cynwyd Middle School, PA, Hegeman, 610-664-4500 x304
Dec. 11 - Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne PA, Phil Townsend
2 0 0 1
Feb. 13 - Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne PA, 6 sessions Phil Townsend, 800-234-8362
March 30 - Holicong School, Holicong PA
April 6 - Temple Univ. Law Library, Philadelphia
July 1 - Millersville Univ. Summer Camp, Lancaster PA
Aug. 6 - Boy Scout Camp, Toledo, OH
2 0 0 0
Jan. 28 - Valley Forge Military Academy, Wayne PA, 6 sessions Phil Townsend, 800-234-8362
1 9 9 9
May 5 - Interboro High School, Prospect Park PA
Oct. 25 - West Chester PA East High School
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University of PA Museum Classical History Day Camp - July 18, 2003
At Left - A Testudo (turtle) formation of 35 students, in the UPM Courtyard using the Commander's helmets and scutum shields along with the small cardboard shields the students had made earlier in the week. At Right - The Commander talks to students.
Lupus Britannicus (Wolf of Britain - Mike Catellier) in the "Secutor" style at left, faces off against Aulus (Albert Barbato) , as a "Retiarius" (net & trident) in the Courtyard of the University of Pennsylvania Museum in Philadelphia, on July 18, 2003. At right, the "Wolf" is victorious as "Aulus" raises his trident in defeat. The kids were attending an annual week-long Classical History Day Camp and were enthralled with the authentic living history lesson being presented before them.
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Above and below, two pages from the "Digital View" pictorial publication of the Neshaminy Middle School, in Newtown, PA.
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"Multas Gratias tibi Agimus" (Much Thanks) from Henderson High School, West Chester, PA May 2003
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