Road Trip..con't ...Gettysburg

Rather than a "photo for the day", this is a mini travel blog....no way can I pick just one..... We went to Gettysburg for the day. American Civil War history is one of my passions, along with the Revolutionary era.

This week (July 1-3) marks the 145th Anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg. It is reported that during the battle's cannonade on July 3rd, the cannon's rumble could be heard clear to Pittsburgh!

It is hard to imagine it..but nearly 80,000 Confederate troops marched in on this road. The mountains shielded them, and they "snuck" in. It is hard to wrap one's brain around 80,000 men wandering into you state without anyone knowing it!!!!

We went to a dedication of a monument in Hunterstown, which is the North Calvary Battlefield. There on July 2, 1863 George Custer (that is George by the way, reading his monument....) and JEB Stuart had it out. At the dedication, a friend of ours had a painting of the battle unveiled. He is a college student and was commissioned for this piece.

While at the event...we ran into Gen. US Grant and his wife Julia

General Robert E. Lee was there too...

We were well protected by some Union Soldiers....

And I like this one.... "The Past and the Present" (although I think General Lee is taking a little pre-battle snooze.....)

These buildings were there during the battle. This is the small barn on the property the battle was fought.

And this is an old hotel, all festooned for the 4th of July and Battle Anniversary festivities.

We must never forget the sacrifices that were made on these grounds during those 3 days. A lot of pain and sadness resulted. But for what those men, and that small community in the ensuing days, accomplished, allowed for a changed nation. One that then welcomed my family 60 years later, and gave them opportunities they could only dream about.

One of those "someday dream" things.... I have always wanted to live in an historic area and out of the snow belt. My friend Jared always laughs at me, and when we travel, my usual comment when I see a really cool old house (that I could never afford, unless I won the lottery) is "I could live there..." Well yesterday on the way to Hunterstown, we took a back road (thank you to DeLorme maps). Well this is the road that I decided that I could live anywhere along.... new house, old house, it really wouldn't matter.....