I just returned from a family trip to Gettysburg, PA. and on this Independence Day I feel more blessed than ever to live in a country that is willing to fight for what it stands for, even if it means fighting on our own soil.
I'm not saying we should fight one another, brother against sister. After visiting Gettysburg, where people were killing one another for their belief of what our country should be, my perspective changed. The Union troops were fighting to preserve the Union. To keep the stars and stripes flying above our whole country.
We saw monument after monument, until I thought I would scream, but in retrospect, each monument was placed proudly in memory of a group of men, some as young as 13 years old, who fought at this battle that was the turning point of the Civil War.
These men hid in caves, behind bullet scared trees and near rock walls that were built during the night. From July 1 to July 3, bullets, cannons, horse cavalry and foot soldiers engaged in mortal combat.
I'm the wife of a US Marine veteran. I was around when my husband went to the first Gulf War. I know war means death, danger and hardships, but until I was standing on a battlefield where people died, the blood long washed away, I didn't comprehend the magnitude of what soldiers go through.
We create military heroes as fiction writers. They are hunky, desirable and never flinch in the face of adversity. We rarely write about the traumas, sleepless nights and the horror of battle, mostly because that would make depressing reading. However, sometimes we have to step back and think about the men and women who have shaped our country, who have given us the ability to celebrate the fourth of July. From the men of the Twentieth Maine to Martin Luther King, Jr., to Angus King (former Governor of Maine), they all have contributed to our National history.
So although I grumbled about driving to Gettysburg, I'm so glad that my family wanted to go.
God bless America, our fighting soldiers and our citizens who work to make our country a better place for all.
Captions: 1. Little Round Top from the Devil's Den.
2. The Twentieth Maine monument.
3. My military hero, who braved 8 flights of stairs for this picture.
6 comments:
Important and timely observations. Good to remember what our heroes fight for.
We've been to Gettysburg a couple of times and found that there is no way that you can't be touched by the loss and the honor of the place. When you stand at Little Round Top and look down to where Chamberlain held off the Alabama boys who were lodged the crevices and crags of the hill you begin to feel just how horrible that must have been. Last night daughter and I went to honor Chamberlain and placed a penny on his grave in remembrance. We weren't the only ones who'd been there that day. Today is a day to honor all of those men and women who fight for our country regardless of the odds and for the principle of it. It's also a time to honor those who work behind the scenes such as wives like yourself who hold things together so that they can do what needs to be done. My best to you and your family. Happy Independence Day.
God bless America, our fighting soldiers and our citizens who work to make our country a better place for all.
I COULDN'T HAVE SAID IT BETTER. WE ARE A WONDERFUL COUNTRY, A MIXTURE OF ALL KINDS AND THAT IS WHAT MAKES US STRONG.
MORE THAN ONCE I HAD THE PLEASURE TO HANG YELLOW RIBBONS ON THE OLD OAK TREE.
JACLYN
Jillian - Thanks so much for the post. It's so easy to forget all we've been through to become the "land of the free". Your post put a lump in my throat.
A very touching article. Thanks for reminding all of us the price of freedom and taking a moment to thank our soldiers both past and present.
Diane
What a cute picture of you guys!
And I so want to visit Gettysburg now. Arlington Cemetary was like that - really made me think about the people.
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