My final post from James and Heather’s vacation before returning to teach school in August is their trip to Gettysburg Battlefield in Pennsylvania. It was the site of a pivotal American Civil War battle from July 1-3, 1863. It is considered the turning point of the war. Managed by the National Park Service, it is a popular tourist attraction and offers visitors a preserved landscape with hundreds of monuments and markers to explore. The battle at Gettysburg was the largest and bloodiest battle of the Civil War.
The Gettysburg Address is a speech delivered by President Abraham Lincoln following the Battle of Gettysburg on November 19, 1863. The address is considered one of the most eloquent and significant speeches in American history, solidifying its importance in the national consciousness and re-affirming the country’s founding principle that all men are created equal.
Since this is my favorite American speech, I’ll quote one version of it. (There are 4 handwritten existing copies with notes written by President Lincoln with slight variations in each.)
Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.
Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.
But, in a larger sense, 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. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—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.
—Abraham Lincoln
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…ah, back in the days of “honest” Ab. I remember going there as a boy!!!
Lincoln has delivered a powerful and meaningful speech!
I would really like to visit here someday. I really enjoyed the book “The Killer Angels”. Thanks for sharing your nephew’s photos!
Great monuments.
Great photos, Gettysburg is on my bucket list. We’ve toured Vicksburg and the interesting thing to me is that the battles concluded only a day or two apart from each other.
Inspiring history carved in stone!
I enjoyed seeing the photos. My favorite is how the cannon barrel points toward a beautiful sky.
What a lovely day to take this trip.
Worth a Thousand Words
Beautiful shots.
I’m glad your nephew had the opportunity to visit such a historic site.
Thank you for sharing James and Heather’s vacation photos Carol, and to them also. It’s been fun following along. The last time I was in Gettysburg was many, many years ago. Great photos all of them and a very interesting history lesson, which I always enjoy. Happy weekend to you 🙂
Happy Sunday, Denise!
I live not far from there and haven’t been to Gettysburg since I was a little kid. You make me want to return.
Thanks for sharing at https://image-in-ing.blogspot.com/2025/09/the-buffalo-bill-dam-just-outside-of.html