A strange juxtaposition exists between the town and fields of Gettysburg. Both are rich with history; however, the fields outside of Gettysburg boast some of the most solemn ground upon which my feet have tread while the town is much more fanciful and delightful. I’ll walk you through our visit to Gettysburg as we experienced it, beginning with the town.
The Acorn:
This and many other acorns were among the first things we saw. They kids started playing with them and I immediately became quite a target for these bourgeoning projectiles. This image captures both the life and the history that I love about this part of the country and Gettysburg in particular.
Color & Texture:
If you just whipped through the last images concentrating on my beautiful family, take a second look at the abundant colors and textures that exist everywhere in Gettysburg. What an amazing place!
We also really enjoyed the food. We had lunch at a little French Bistro where the most delectable MonteCristo sandwich was served. Julie and I savored every little bite! OK, so this wasn’t quite authentic Gettysburg fare but it was amazing still and an important part of our day!
People:
A few times a year a large company of Civil War enthusiasts descends upon Gettysburg to share part of the history they love so much. Indeed these people are full of passion and desire to discuss the important accomplishments of their progenitors. They really love assembling, teaching, and sharing. We spoke with a young man (probably about 12), clad in garb befitting the era; he explained how much he enjoys the history and that he is continually correcting his teachers on the finer points of Civil War history. :) I can’t overemphasize the the zeal of this people! I even got to watch a simulated leg amputation; what an adventure!
The Grass:
We had so much fun playing in the tall grass. Hearing the laughter of little children in such a solemn place was music to our ears. If you want to look at other images of the day please check out the gallery here.
The Fields:
The feelings we experienced here were very much akin to those felt during our visit to Arlington National Cemetery; very solemn and hard to describe. Instead, I’ll leave a few images and the words of the Gettysburg Address.
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.
-Abraham Lincoln
