Another Chapter in History

We left eastern Pennsylvania with it's Revolutionary War history in Philadelphia and headed to the Civil War battle site of southern Pennsylvania, Gettysburg.   This battle was fought July 1-3, 1863 and involved over 165,000 soldiers from the Union and Confederate sides.  I took very few photos today because now the grounds in and around Gettysburg are "littered" with monuments.  But during that time there were almost 8,000 killed and another 27,000 wounded.  For this to occur in three days, it involved some very fierce fighting.  

I think the impression that impacted me the most was how the town of Gettysburg was affected.  They were left with many of the dead and wounded as the survivors moved on to other battles.  There was a photo of pile of body parts, arms, feet, legs....."the pile was as high as the fence."  Another person stated, "the stench was evident for months after the battle."  Houses and businesses were being used as hospitals.  Farmers had to help clean out their fields of bodies before they could get back to farming.  

This battle was fought in and around Gettysburg, many buildings were shelled or bullet-riddled.  In driving through the town, I did not realize that there is a Lutheran seminary in the town.  Upon, researching the seminary, I found it was there during the battle, being established there in 1826.  I do not know for a fact, but I suppose that the community was a faith-based community and rallied around their neighbors to help in any way possible to assist the wounded soldiers...providing shoes, water, clothes, meals.  Many of these people in Gettysburg cared for the
Confederate soldiers just as well as the Union soldier that fought for their beliefs.   I do not know for a fact, but I suppose that the community had the support of family and friends and their faith to continue to live in Gettysburg and carry on their business there....be it farming, cooking, serving their neighbors....rather than run away.  

My home area (Rio Grande River Valley) is also experiencing another chapter in its own history.  It's all over the news about the immigrants pouring over the border to our area.  What you may not be reading about is the outpouring of support people are providing these immigrants....shoes, water, clothes, meals.  Many of the primary advocates for these immigrants are the people of the churches in the Valley, including my own Lutheran church in McAllen.  

Just as the Union and Confederate supporters had their different views on slavery, so too is our nation divided by the views of immigration.  I am pleased that our Valley people are showing support to these immigrants regardless of their legal or illegal status...and regardless of their personal views on immigration.

I leave you tonight with a photo of the Eternal Light Peace Memorial flame located on Oak Hill near Gettysburg in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the Battle of Gettysburg.