Our bike ride today, through the Gettysburg battlefields in Pennsylvania, was on hallowed ground where thousands of soldiers gave their last full measure of devotion to causes dear to their hearts. For three days in July of 1863, troops from the south attacked the north and battled in this small Pennsylvania town’s farm fields.
There were over 50,000 casualties and losses, and one in three did not leave leave. Although the rolling hills seem tranquil now, the history of this area tells a different tale. May we learn from the past and resolutely seek the path of understanding, justice, and peace.
During our ride today we first rode down Confederate Avenue on Seminary Ridge and felt the immense scale of General Lee’s army lined up for miles!
We rode up Big and Little Round Tops, where the Union line held off Confederate attacks. Then we rode down from that hill, and visited the fierce battle grounds below of Devils Den, bloody Wheatfield, and the Peach Orchard.
Next we rode out to the middle – “High Water Mark’ – the farthest the Confederate Army even got – where the Union repelled the desperate last attempt of Pickett’s Charge. We were fortunate to have visited Gettysburg over twenty years ago with our then young sons with an historical guide in our own car pointing out the story at each important location. Today there was something extra special about biking through the battlefields. The importance of obtaining control of ‘the high ground’ is accentuated on a bike with the extra effort that is needed to pedal up hundreds of feet which reinforces the importance of this vital position. Fifteen miles of riding a bike changes one’s impression of the magnitude of this epic battle as we circled all the way around the positions held by both sides.
Finally, we rode over to the Soldiers’ National Cemetery to pay our respects, and to see where President Lincoln gave his famous Gettysburg address, now symbolized by the Soldiers’ National Monument with 18 stars, one for each Union state, and four statues representing War, History, Peace, and Plenty. It also has the last 4 lines of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address on it. (Below you can see a link to Sue’s cycling video which shows the 15 miles we rode today.)
Back at the Visitor Center, we explored the Gettysburg museum. Beyond the historical facts, it emphasized that two of three issues that caused the Civil War were resolved: the 13th amendment which abolished slavery and the 15th amendment which granted black men the right to vote. However, the third issue, the 14th amendment – ‘equal protection under the law for all citizens’ – continued to be unresolved, and is still a struggle for people in our country to accept.
We are writing this blog from the Gettysburg KOA RV park where we are camping. In many ways, going through the current day South is a juxtaposition to the events of the Civil War. We have seen many confederate flags in people’s yards, and signs condemning our current president. Although we have experienced many more expressions of love for all during this trip, too often we have also seen examples of racism and advocacy for oppression of minorities. As we write this blog, a black pick-up truck just drove by with many gun decals across the windows and in bold letters an obscene word. Three people walked by our trailer, saw our license plate, and said a derogatory comment, but the third one was gentle: “California has become kind of goofy.” Our reply is always: “We love California”.
- Ted: “It is sobering to experience Gettysburg again, after our trip took us through the South, in light of the post-January 6 assault on democracy, and immediately after a young man killed black people in Buffalo, NY.”
- Sue: “As I biked through what is now a tranquil and peaceful area, I was humbled and horrified by the carnage that happened here almost 160 years ago. May we learn from the past and move forward with hope, healing, and justice in the future.”
Here is Sue’s ReLive video to see our ride in detail: