{"id":1686,"date":"2016-05-17T22:27:13","date_gmt":"2016-05-17T22:27:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/?p=1686"},"modified":"2016-05-25T11:38:20","modified_gmt":"2016-05-25T11:38:20","slug":"87-years-ago","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/2016\/05\/17\/87-years-ago\/","title":{"rendered":"87 years ago"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>I wonder if Abe&#8217;s speech would be as well remembered if it started &#8220;87 years ago&#8230;&#8221;. \u00a0Anyway, we are right here at Gettysburg where the historic 3 day battle took place and Abe delivered that famous address. \u00a0As usual, I came in knowing a few basic facts I memorized in school but left with a much better understanding of this part of history and a ton of questions.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Honest Abe\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/27091458751\/in\/album-72157667957505380\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/c8.staticflickr.com\/8\/7101\/27091458751_7a2fa172e0_n.jpg\" alt=\"Honest Abe\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p><!--more--><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>We paid to see the movie, the cyclorama and the museum. \u00a0It was kind of pricey for what you get I think but partly that was because we didn&#8217;t have as much time in the museum as we (well, not Brielle) would have liked. \u00a0It was very well put together. \u00a0Not quite as good as the WWII museum in New Orleans, but close. \u00a0If you are on a budget I think I might just do the museum and skip the movie and cyclorama. \u00a0The museum has tons of short videos that, as Brielle pointed out, are the same stuff that was in the movie. \u00a0Just you get to hear Morgan Freeman say it in the movie.<\/p>\n<p>While it was pricey for a tourist attraction I think it was worth it as an educational opportunity. \u00a0 All the presentations did a really nice job of explaining what led up to the battle, and why Gettysburg was strategically important enough to become the location of this battle. \u00a0What really boggles my mind about the early wars were communication and intelligence. \u00a0Without radios or phones, these guys were able to move huge groups of men around the country to where they were needed and when they were needed. \u00a0I have a hard enough time getting 5 people moved around the country with Google by my side, I can&#8217;t imagine how they did it!<\/p>\n<p>I had found out just a day or two before that Dwight D. Eisenhower&#8217;s home is in Gettysburg. \u00a0Dacen is a fan of Ike&#8217;s since he created NASA (or at least he signed the act that created NASA). \u00a0While it is a national historic site you have to pay a private company to drive you out there on a bus. \u00a0We were suckers and went for it. \u00a0The ranger that received us at the home\u00a0was a hoot. \u00a0He got everyone involved and his catch phrase was &#8220;so you see folks, the thing is&#8230;.&#8221;. \u00a0This now gets spoken by our family at opportune moments and it usually gets a big laugh. \u00a0While out at Ike&#8217;s place they have the Jr Secret Service program instead of the Jr Ranger program. \u00a0It was a pretty fun program which included interrogating one of the rangers. \u00a0The Eisenhower house was really nice. \u00a0It reminded me a lot of Steph&#8217;s Grandma Gerry and Grandpa Merl&#8217;s house. \u00a0The smell, the style&#8230;something. \u00a0Ike was quite the rancher and they still have cattle on the ranch today which we got a chance to say hi to.<br \/>\n<a title=\"Angus\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/27064797152\/in\/album-72157667957505380\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/c1.staticflickr.com\/8\/7109\/27064797152_91a05f24da_n.jpg\" alt=\"Angus\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>It was a full day, a fun day and a productive day. \u00a0The kids earned both a\u00a0\u00a0Jr Secret Service badges and a\u00a0Jr Ranger badge. \u00a0While Steph made dinner I took the kids back to the teeter totters to play. \u00a0After dinner, Brielle talked us into having a disco party in their bunkhouse room. \u00a0The kids got some of the built in tunes on the keyboard to play while we all danced our best moves. \u00a0I was really tired, but its fun to be goofy like that every once in awhile. \u00a0Thanks for the reminder Brielle!<\/p>\n<p>The next day was soggy. \u00a0We wanted to do the driving tour around Gettysburg to check out all the actual places we had learned about yesterday. \u00a0As the morning wore on the rain let up and it turned out to be a pretty nice day. \u00a0As we stood at some of the key places on the battlefield like Semenary Ridge, Cemetary Hill and Little Round Top I tried to imagine commanding\u00a0a bunch of troops spread all up and down the landscape without radio communication. While we were on Little Round Top there was a volunteer dressed in Civil War uniform who shared some info about the cannons and guns used on the battlefield. \u00a0He had some show and tell items he passed around and then also gave the kids some cast lead bullets. \u00a0They were in plastic bags and he made us promise not to touch the actual lead. \u00a0So of course, the kids wanted to touch them&#8230;and we let them!! \u00a0We&#8217;re such rebels! \u00a0They were pretty excited to get such a unique souvenir&#8230;.for free!<br \/>\n <a title=\"Free bullets!\" href=\"https:\/\/www.flickr.com\/photos\/136797225@N05\/27064791852\/in\/album-72157667957505380\/\" data-flickr-embed=\"true\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" class=\"aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/c5.staticflickr.com\/8\/7225\/27064791852_f2aa065515_n.jpg\" alt=\"Free bullets!\" width=\"320\" height=\"240\" \/><\/a><script src=\"\/\/embedr.flickr.com\/assets\/client-code.js\" async=\"\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script><\/p>\n<p>The highlight of the day for me was being on Little Round Top and imagining the Confederate troops making their move, now called Picket&#8217;s charge, on the strategic hill. \u00a0But I also really liked being down at The Angle and the &#8220;high water mark&#8221; contemplating how things might be different if the Union soldiers had been unable to stop the Confederates at that point.<\/p>\n<p>We wrapped up the day back at home and yet one more trip to the teeter totters before dinner and bed. \u00a0Oh, we also found this funky pod on the ground and broke it open to find a spongy\/fluffy thing inside. \u00a0Kind of weird&#8230;.check out the photos.<\/p>\n<p>So you see folks, the thing is, I&#8217;m glad we stopped for a couple days at Gettysburg. \u00a0And Caledonia State park was nice place to stay although a little far away (about 30 minutes to Gettysburg). \u00a0The nights got down into the low 40s at night but we stayed warm inside.<\/p>\n<div id=\"flickr_72157667957505380_1622\"><div class=\"slickr-flickr-slideshow landscape medium \"><div class=\"active\"><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7502\/27091476991_3b6c5f438b.jpg\" title=\"Cyclorama\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Cyclorama<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7469\/27064802172_17937c37b1.jpg\" title=\"GUNS!!\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>GUNS!!<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7288\/27091476291_27db3ca932.jpg\" title=\"Looking for clues\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Looking for clues<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7335\/26554067564_2ce22d8b32.jpg\" title=\"Welcome mat\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Welcome mat<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7012\/27064800602_e555225b46.jpg\" title=\"Working\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Working<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7379\/26885546000_498f2f0de1.jpg\" title=\"Ike&#039;s back yard\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Ike's back yard<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7535\/26554065104_a986d7a69b.jpg\" title=\"Ike&#039;s ranch\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Ike's ranch<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7230\/27064804802_1d8fe808d6.jpg\" title=\"Gas pump\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Gas pump<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7027\/26885545240_e182388b19.jpg\" title=\"Cool truck\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Cool truck<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7703\/27091471761_068396e953.jpg\" title=\"School\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>School<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7090\/26555317823_5a38d2249d.jpg\" title=\"Working\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Working<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7109\/27064797152_91a05f24da.jpg\" title=\"Angus\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Angus<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7798\/26554061284_bb4e18761b.jpg\" title=\"Calling the cows\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Calling the cows<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7359\/26554060924_818b1c9b45.jpg\" title=\"Ike&#039;s place\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Ike's place<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7170\/26885543230_7d644160cf.jpg\" title=\"Charge\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Charge<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7528\/26554059604_5eef497f1a.jpg\" title=\"From Seminary Ridge\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>From Seminary Ridge<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7280\/26554059134_c1f4f7a269.jpg\" title=\"Crazy Caden\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Crazy Caden<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7252\/27064794062_32e3725847.jpg\" title=\"Cemetery ridge in background\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Cemetery ridge in background<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7383\/27064793852_5c853d6525.jpg\" title=\"Us\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Us<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7186\/26885541430_08761fb487.jpg\" title=\"View from the top\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>View from the top<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7715\/27064793432_f5a6924305.jpg\" title=\"Climbing\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Climbing<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7462\/26554057004_d344fd12e9.jpg\" title=\"P1120074\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>P1120074<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7225\/27064791852_f2aa065515.jpg\" title=\"Free bullets!\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Free bullets!<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7284\/26554056344_d38a0d6862.jpg\" title=\"Lecture on cannons\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Lecture on cannons<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7779\/27064790852_825908c73d.jpg\" title=\"Little Round Top pano\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Little Round Top pano<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7665\/26554056104_b243519801.jpg\" title=\"Loading the cannon\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Loading the cannon<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7714\/27126649466_3f3840f11c.jpg\" title=\"Little Round Top\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Little Round Top<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7403\/27159898565_33ff6eedf7.jpg\" title=\"Lookout\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Lookout<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7424\/27064787512_0f4e08b80a.jpg\" title=\"High Water Mark\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>High Water Mark<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7647\/27064786802_83afba9458.jpg\" title=\"The Angle\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>The Angle<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7165\/27159897315_b9e1c3e64c.jpg\" title=\"Fence\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Fence<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7101\/27091458751_7a2fa172e0.jpg\" title=\"Honest Abe\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Honest Abe<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7484\/27126646636_afe565b0c5.jpg\" title=\"Caledonia walk\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Caledonia walk<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7612\/26555325313_79a0e90161.jpg\" title=\"Walking\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Walking<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7777\/26554071364_0464bb163e.jpg\" title=\"Teeter totter\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Teeter totter<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7082\/27091459411_c5a159538e.jpg\" title=\"What&#039;s inside?\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>What's inside?<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7390\/27126647486_891822264a.jpg\" title=\"Fuzz inside\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Fuzz inside<\/p><\/div><div><img src=\"https:\/\/farm8.static.flickr.com\/7366\/26554070214_888c9892cb.jpg\" title=\"Kids&#039; favorite wrapper\" alt=\"\"  \/><p>Kids' favorite wrapper<\/p><\/div><\/div><script type=\"text\/javascript\">jQuery(\"#flickr_72157667957505380_1622\").data(\"options\",{\"delay\":3000,\"autoplay\":true,\"transition\":500,\"link\":\"next\",\"target\":\"_self\",\"width\":\"\",\"height\":\"\"});<\/script><div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/div>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I wonder if Abe&#8217;s speech would be as well remembered if it started &#8220;87 years ago&#8230;&#8221;. \u00a0Anyway, we are right here at Gettysburg where the historic 3 day battle took place and Abe delivered that famous address. \u00a0As usual, I came in knowing a few basic facts I memorized in school but left with a [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":""},"categories":[7],"tags":[52,51],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1686"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1686"}],"version-history":[{"count":8,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1686\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1734,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1686\/revisions\/1734"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1686"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1686"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/thewachs.com\/wachsacrossamerica\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1686"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}