Gettysburg Film Festival Celebrates America's 250th Anniversary

The festival kicks off with a panel discussion on wartime generals who became U.S. presidents.

Apr. 3, 2026 at 1:49am

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A bold, colorful silkscreen print featuring the American flag repeated in a grid pattern, with flat, neon-like colors and heavy black outlines, conceptually representing the celebratory spirit of the Gettysburg Film Festival's 250th anniversary theme.The Gettysburg Film Festival celebrates America's 250th birthday with a vibrant, pop art-inspired interpretation of the nation's iconic flag.Gettysburg Today

The Gettysburg Film Festival has begun, with this year's theme celebrating America's 250th birthday and the American Revolution. One of the first events was a panel discussion featuring author Jeff Shaara and American consultant Susan Eisenhower, the granddaughter of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, talking about wartime generals who went on to become president of the United States.

Why it matters

The 250th anniversary of America's founding is a significant milestone, and events like the Gettysburg Film Festival help bring people together to reflect on the country's history and legacy. The panel discussion on wartime generals-turned-presidents provides unique insights into the intersection of military and political leadership.

The details

The panel discussion featured author Jeff Shaara and Susan Eisenhower, the granddaughter of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. They spoke about the experiences of wartime generals who later became president of the United States. Shaara commented that America's 250th anniversary makes the festival feel even more special, as it gets people in touch with history and where the country came from.

  • The Gettysburg Film Festival kicked off on Thursday, April 3, 2026.

The players

Jeff Shaara

An author who participated in the panel discussion at the Gettysburg Film Festival.

Susan Eisenhower

An American consultant and the granddaughter of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, who participated in the panel discussion at the Gettysburg Film Festival.

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What they’re saying

“With the 250th, it's everybody. I mean the whole country participates in that. The whole country gets excited about it, all kinds of events. That's wonderful. Get people in touch with history. Get them aware of you know where we come from, what we did.”

— Jeff Shaara, Author

The takeaway

The Gettysburg Film Festival's celebration of America's 250th anniversary provides an opportunity for the public to engage with the country's history and legacy, particularly through the lens of influential wartime generals who went on to become U.S. presidents.