A Tour Through History

Monuments Are Everywhere

A week on a cruise ship, beach or perhaps a campground may be the ultimate getaway for many people, but I prefer exploring lots of different places on the road.    Tourism through history is my favorite vacation, and no destination focuses on that theme more than Gettysburg, PA.   That's where I went in the summer of 1993.   That year marked the 130th anniversary of this pivotal Civil War battle which lasted three days in July and arguably marked the beginning of the end for the Confederacy.   A visit to this well-preserved expanse of American history left me with the distinct impression of the hell the combatants on both sides endured in a struggle that could have gone either way.    Beyond the horrific medical care, the idea of wearing scratchy wool uniforms in blistering heat would have been enough to drive me out of my mind.    Gettysburg exacted a huge price, providing a history lesson that applies just as much on its 150th anniversary as the day Lincoln gave his memorable address months after a battle that was still in the process of being cleaned up.    Deer now graze in the tranquil field where Pickett's Charge turned the bloody tide of battle, but the legacy of Gettysburg should never be sanitized.