INSPIRATION

GETTYSBURG AND PHILADELPHIA

If you are in need of a little inspiration after another political campaign and recent economic forcast I would like to share a little of what we felt and saw during the visit to National Military Park at Gettysburg.


Gettysburg a wonderful town of 2400 people engulfed by 75000 troops for three days. The women folk stayed behind with the children to protect their homes from being ransacked. For the most part they were left alone as they hid out in their homes wondering if the cannon fire would ever cease. The area of the battle around the town is close and small so they were not far away. I'm sure you all know that during July 1, 2, and 3 over 50,000 fell (more than Vietnam). One day alone was the bloodiest day in military history.

Today, the parks department has recreated the battlefields and it is not hard to feel like a first hand witness to the sacrifice and blood shed there. There are 3300 monuments placed by the regiments that fought their. They are placed in the exact spot that each unit fought. Amazing - to think about what they fought and died for.

                                PHILADELPHIA
We could not find many people who encouraged us to visit Philadelphia. It was on our driving path so we thought - why not? Though we walked and visited many places around the city - we found the experience of standing in the Constitution Hall - where all the important new documents were written and signed was a great experience. Of course it is almost all restored to exact furnishings. The recreations in film and voice of Washington, Jefferson, Hamilton, Payne, Franklin (the senior and oldest) and many others makes you feel like you are sharing the air they breathed. They were not even sure that what they were doing would survive or work. (sometimes the founding of our nation was referred to as the great experment) LaFayette, the French diplomat and general said after the Constitution was signed, "Finally, freedom has a place to reside!

For any of you who grew up in the East - you probably visited most of these places on field trips and weekends with your family. If you grew up out West it is all so far removed that they seem like places just in a book. Every American needs to see first hand the price, the struggle and the inspiration the Founding Fathers, the soldiers and the immigrants shared to build this great country!  We wish we had taken our own kids to see first hand.  We are so thankful to see it for ourselves and to be inspired!