Gettysburg on Monday

Starting out the campground on the bus when we see all these little kids heading off to their one room school nearby.  They carry their lunches in Igloo "swinger" coolers.  Each kid had their own, some almost as big as they were. Interesting, I don't think you would see non-Amish kids doing that. We were asked several times not to take pictures without permission so you don't get to see how cute they are.  Loved when families came into the park selling their wares.  Everyone preferred buying from the families rather than commercial stores. I got my fall decorations for the RV, mini pumpkin, gourd and dried corn, from a group of three brothers.  They were so cute and very respectful.

On to Gettysburg.  TMI, TMI....  I hate the results of war.  So many people died on those fields.  Today the whole valley is preserved as a National area.  It is beautiful land until you think of all the blood spilled there.  Very sad place.  All over slavery.  Many, many monuments and statues.

The visitor center provided a circular program that was very intense.  You were right in the middle of battle.  It is the longest oil painting on canvas in the country and was originally painted in the 1800's. Flash was not allowed so these are not as good as the painting. Very moving display and presentation. The details in the paintings are amazing.  It was completely painted in eleven months time.

Interesting to note that President Dwight Eisenhauer had a farm at the edge of the battlefield.  He is the first president that I remember being in office and remember him going to Gettysburg often.  Back in the day, what today would be a PAC, bought him the farm next door to his so that he could have better security and privacy.  

The entry to our park has the neatest old, covered bridge.  It needs a ton of work and apparently every time they allocate money, it is needed somewhere else more. There is also a grist mill with lots of old antiques.