237 years ago is the day we celebrate on the 4th of July where brave men with an idea, and idea worth risking their lives for, exposed themselves to great danger by announcing independance from England. These founders of our Great Nation gave us our Constitution but they gave us guts and ideals as well.
Then 150 years ago today, the battle of Gettysburg coduring our Civil War concluded. It rained hard this day, making movement a challenge as there were no paved roads then. CSA General Robert E. Lee experienced his first defeat and was retreating towards the Potomac River with ambulance wagons stretching for miles.
President Lincoln was very frustrated with Union General Meade for not pursuing Lee and finishing the war once and for all. But what was largely ignored by most was the stench of dead bodies....thousands of them, bloating in the summer heat....and the wild hogs eating on them.
It would take months to finally clear the bodies off of the battlefield and in November Lincoln would make his famous speech. I hope all Americans can appreciate the sacrifices made by the dead and living during that critically important battle in our history.... as it clearly shaped our history, but unfortunantly many people will remember neither the Signing of the Declaration of Independence nor the Battle of Gettysburg.
Teach your family, instruct your neighbors. We are better than what we accept now. Demand a sober, frugal representative government.
"Only the dead have seen the end of war." ~ Plato
