Battlefields and thoughts

The Alabama Regiment's Monument at the Battle of Gettysburg
Some cannonry at Gettysburg. If I am correct these are Napoleon cannons.
The Sunken Road - A trench at Sharpsburg where many perished.

Today we got up and drove forever to Sharpsburg, MA to the battlefield. THe Battle of Antietam or Sharpsburg, whichever you want to call it by was the single bloodiest day in the history of our country. This completely astounds me. More lives were lost on this day than ever before. We drove around the battlefield with the Audio Guide CD which was interesting. Then we left and drove to Gettysburg, PA which was completely amazing. This battlefield was the turning tide of the war and i believe where the most lives were lost out of any other battle in our history. And yet all these kids and even adults were running around being stupid and silly. They I guess do not realize what sacred, hallowed ground this is Two weeks ago I went to register to vote and a very nice, well meaning lady at the office cornered me and proceeded to explain to me how many lives were lost so that I could have this privilige and on and on and on. At the time all I wanted to tell her was that I knew all this and she obviously didn't know my family or she would have known that I did but I never truly realized it. All my life I have been dragged around to battlefields and monuments and actually enjoyed it but now as an adult, I understand the responsibility of keeping this country safe and as uncorrupted as possible. So call me cliche but I am so proud to be born in this country and of this country and what it stands for. Lincoln says it best ... we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.