July 15, 2005

Gettysburg

John and I spent two days in Gettysburg what a learning experience!! We did an 18-mile auto tour of the battlefield. It is unbelievable how beautiful the area is and at the very same time hard to imagine the horror of all those soldiers dying in the battlefields it is unbelievable how many men died. During Pickett’s charge more than 5000 men died in one hour. In total 51,000 men either; died, were captured/missing or wounded in a three-day battle beginning July 1 ending on July 3, 1863. We also did a ranger led tour of the Gettysburg Cemetery. I found one (of course there were many others) interesting fact of the Gettysburg Cemetery. This cemetery was to be a Union Soldiers Cemetery and several years’ later historians found that there are two Confederate Soldiers who are buried at Gettysburg. Know one really knows how/why this happened. One speculation is they had taken a dead union soldiers clothing or they were wounded and claimed to be union to get better medical care…. In any case it was to be determined that they would remain in the Gettysburg Cemetery. We also saw the 360-foot Cyclorama painting of Pickett’s Charge it is an original painting by Paul Phillippoteaux it is awesome. It is 121 years old and we feel very lucky to have seen it, this November the exhibit will be closed until 2007, they are going to attempt to restore the painting.
We found the Harley Davidson Factory in York, PA and took a factory tour. Pretty cool
We also toured the Boyd’s Bears “Factory” with boomer friends Larry & Claudia King…

Coming Attractions:
Lancaster, PA Dutch Country


Eternal Light Peace Memorial this commemorates the Battle of Gettysburg. A perpetual flame burns at the top. The inscription reads " Peace Eternal in a Nation United". Posted by Picasa

Virginia's Memorial overlooks the battlefield where Pickett's charge occurred July 3 Posted by Picasa

Monument at the Battlefield Posted by Picasa

Cannon at Little Round Top Hill Posted by Picasa

Little Round Top HIll Posted by Picasa

From Devils Den looking out to Little Round Top Hill, This was the 2nd day fighting Posted by Picasa

Looking out at Devils Den from Little Round Top Posted by Picasa

Pennyslyvania Monument Posted by Picasa

Battlefield Monument Posted by Picasa

John dreaming  Posted by Picasa

Boyds Bears Factory Posted by Picasa

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Graves of the Union Soldiers Posted by Picasa

Cemetery Posted by Picasa

The Soldiers National Monumnet Posted by Picasa

Lincolns Gettysburg Address Monument Posted by Picasa

June 30, 2005


Downtown Philly with City Hall in the background Posted by Picasa