I'm a Private in the 42 PA (Bucktails) reenactment regiment. We have participated regularly in the annual commemoration of President Lincoln's essential Gettysburg Address in which thousands of Civil War reenactors ,Union and Confederate, march through Gettysburg and end up on or near the hallowed battlefield.
This year we mustered in plausible anticipation of interference in our ceremonies from leftist radicals who have of late insolently attacked the memory and memorialization of the Confederacy in their continuing effort to discredit the history of this, to them, unforgiveable country. Law enforcement did a typically painstaking job in preempting such presumptuous anarchy at Gettysburg.
In the event, the craven lowlifes declined to emerge from their burrows. We mustered for the parade in a cold penetrating rain which bade fair to suppress both reenactor and spectator turnout. But that was not to be.
We sallied forth in continuing frigid downpours, to the tunes of most inspiring Civil War marching bands, to the elevating applause of patriotic and knowledgeable crowds. Completely absent were arrogant and bigoted and plainly intimidated radicals. The cold rain lent an unanticipated drama to the progress. The route of the march took us through a portion of the battlefield, just in the rear of the apex of Pickett's Charge, which has been recently restored to its 1863 aspect. It was such a thrill.
Our Union column preceded that of the Confederates, who descended the slope to the open area where we gathered post march, in our view ,and they did themselves proud. Generals Lee and Longstreet led them on foot. As they drew near to us we formed up again and rendered them military honors as they passed through our formation. It was a sublime moment. Our Captain, Chuck Copello, who organized the tribute to the Johnnies, said it best: " This was our day!" American common sense and love of country prevailed. I'll never forget it. Jack
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2 comments:
Marvelous! Glad you could be a part of this, Jack. My only gripe is that, given the service you do to our country, and its historical legacy specifically, you ought to have been promoted way above Private by now... I see you as more of a General in the war on totalitarianism, not a foot soldier. :)
Nick: Thank you much. I like being a private in the regiment; I wanted to get some hint of what life was like for the everyday soldier in the Civil War. As for our present civil war, if I can have any effect on strategy, morale or thinking on the part of the real America in this existential conflict, I'll be grateful. There is much to write about now and I will post tomorrow on the situation with the Americans accused of shoplifting in China. Some cultures are serious about confronting crime.
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