Visiting the Gettysburg battlefields and museum brings anyone far closer to the reality of death, destruction, and victory in our Civil War than you may want. This is a place where there’s no difference in who fought and died for the North or the South; it’s a place to celebrate every person’s contribution to our National History.
The day before our Independence Day (July 3, 1863) this battle ended with 51,100 casualties on both sides, including more than 7,000 killed during this three-day battle.
When you stand on the battlefields and on the actual ground as I did, where President Lincoln later presented his Gettysburg Address (which is not on the battlefield but in Evergreen Cemetery about where the light tan monument is) this all becomes a powerful, emotional experience.
This experience is not to be taken lightly.
Moving into the Gettysburg Museum brings this experience to yet another level. There are 12 separate exhibit areas dedicated to the people, events, and artifacts of this massive battle. In each area, there are interactive displays and video. From tiny bullet fragments to ceremonial swords presented to many of the military leaders on both sides, you see how, when, and where this all happened.
In one exhibit hall, there is a display on the life and death of a 19-year-old soldier named Willie. He died, like thousands of others in a nameless field. The difference in Willie’s death was that it happened within a few yards of his own father, also fighting for the cause and who witnessed it.
After Willie’s death, his father wrote a note (which is included in the display) to his wife and his son’s mother. It was headed with a simple introduction: “Willie is no more.”
In this battle, there were thousands of “Willie’s” and their fathers, brothers, sons, and companions. Many of them didn’t live to see another 4th of July celebration in their hometowns.
Every single citizen of our United States owes them a vote of thanks for their service.
Are we there yet? 