The Luzerne County Historical Society (LCHS) is pleased to announce our 167th Annual Dinner honoring the 28th Division Artillery (formerly the 109th Field Artillery) at The Greens at Irem Clubhouse, 64 Ridgeway Drive, Dallas PA 18612 on June 12th, 2025 at 6pm.

Renamed the 28th DIVARTY in late 2024, the 109th Field Artillery is the area’s local National Guard Unit. It was founded in 1775 as the 24th Connecticut Militia Regiment where it fought at the Battle of Wyoming among other engagements of the American Revolution. The unit’s ancestors also formed a nucleus of the 143rd Pennsylvania Volunteers during the Civil War which formed the 9th Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard until converted to the 109th Field artillery in WW1, ultimately becoming the 28th DIVARTY. The unit has participated in nearly every major war in America’s history, including the Revolutionary War, the Mexican War, the Civil War, World Wars I and II, and the War on Terrorism. We will celebrate with a program that includes presentations from various aspects of the unit’s history.

The program will include Sherry Emershaw, president of the 24^th CMR re-enactment group, retired Major General Joe Perugino, and retired Lt. Colonel William G. Start, both of the 109^th Field Artillery. Former state representative Karen Boback will chair the dinner, Rep. Boback was the first woman chairman of the House Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee. Tickets will be $70 for LCHS members, and $80 for nonmembers. Reservations can be made by calling 570-823-6244 x3 or emailing reservations@luzernehistory.org.

Founded in 1858, the Luzerne County Historical Society is Pennsylvania’s oldest county historical society.  LCHS preserves and promotes the collective history and heritage of Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, at the Bishop Library and the Museum in Wilkes-Barre, the Denison House in Forty Fort and the Swetland Homestead in Wyoming.  For more information, visit our website, www.luzernehistory.org.  Follow us on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/luzernehistory/.