Gettysburg

This past November, we headed to Gettysburg for the 150th anniversary celebrations.  It has been on my calendar all year, and I'm glad, despite the numbing car ride with Ramona, we had a great time.  I look forward to coming back when the weather is better, and we don't need to worry about hats and gloves, and warming up in the car.  Gettysburg is just an incredible, humbling place.  It feels sacred.  The exact locations of which armies came from which direction, the stifling number of those who died, and the footprint they left behind is apparent.  I've never been to a place like this.  

On our way to the parade, which happens annually, we met up with Santa Claus, and watched soldiers march down the sidewalks.  I honestly can't tell you how floored I was to see SO MANY soldiers, dressed in perfect costume.  They took things very seriously, which made it an even more special experience.  Little boys, grown men playing the piccolo, regimes from each state that battled in Gettysburg, horses, music, it was fab.  Just when we thought we had seen everything, and entire army (literally) came over the hill in the street, and marched towards us.  

The evening ended with the lighting of candles at the graves of soldiers in the National Cemetery.  It was quiet, and dark, and reverent.   We high-tailed it out of there once the kids started getting antsy, and Ramona was beyond tired.  Still, the experience was beyond worth it.  (Cafe Rio was a must on the way home.)