In July of 1863 over a course of 3 days(July 1-3), the Battle of Gettysburg was fought in and around the town of Gettysburg, PA. I chose to make this trip because of its importance in American history but also to human history and myself. Many, (including myself) felt these battles were a significant turning point of the American Civil War. An estimated 51,000+ Union and Confederate soldiers were either killed, wounded, captured, or went missing during the three-day battle. I once heard a story when I was younger of a Union soldier asking before one of the battles “Why are we still fighting? They won’t give in. Why?” A Union officer stood and addressed the soldier and said “It’s simple… They are fighting to preserve a way of life you are fighting for freedom. Long after we are gone our sacrifice will live on” Oh how right he was. This trip to Gettysburg is more than just a trip to see where Abraham Lincoln gave the most famous speech in human history or to see museums and battlefields it is to also say “Thank you.” To thank all 3,155 Union soldiers who laid down their lives so that I could live a life of freedom…
Day 1- 09/07/2021: 11:20 am. Uber drive to the airport to catch a 1:15 pm flight from Las Vegas to Washington, D.C with a connection to Harrisburg, PA with United Airlines. Now, United (and most airlines today) has passengers tag their own checked bags this may be a new feature if you haven’t traveled in a while but no worries, you can scan your boarding pass or enter in your email, and your tags will come out after that simply peel off sticker(s) and attach to the bag. (Quick tip: take a quick picture of the tags and keep the claim ticket if there is one also make sure they are going all the way through to your destination) after that everything went as routine as it could go. Did the TSA walk-through and check. I stopped at the newsstand shop for a few beverages and a snack for the flight (4.5 hrs to D.C.) Downloaded some shows and a movie just in case and we are off!
1:15 pm -Flight left on time. Bad news already though, I got pinned in the middle seat. Ugh. The worst seat on a flight and it’s in between two dudes.. double ugh and in case you are wondering the guy to my right was not a small fella he looked like he played on the offensive line for the Pittsburgh Steelers in the ’80s! Heaven forbid I get stuck between two ex-cheerleaders that were celebrating Labor Day weekend in Vegas! Heaven forbid. Anyway that’s my fault should have paid a little extra for the seat selection (mental note: when stuck on a plane for more than 3 hours spring the little bit extra to select the aisle seat, your knees and back will thank you later.) During the flight, I was able to skim through some reading material for my trip: A Field Guide to Gettysburg. I then took a break and watched some shows on my iPhone listed to a podcast and took a little nap. Well, as good as a nap as one could take being stuck in the middle seat!
I arrived in D.C around 8:50 pm local time. Used the lavatory(fancy word for bathroom), then went to grab a bite. Once I finished my meal I was ready to board the connecting flight to Harrisburg PA around 10:05 pm. Now, this flight does not need me to spring for the assigned seat. It was only a 20 min flight to Harrisburg. Of course, they put me in an aisle all by myself in the first row for this one. Very funny United..ha. Ha. Ha. Got into Harrisburg (MDT) around 11:15 pm. Was able to snag an Uber to the hotel which I was worried about because of how late I came in. The drive from the airport to the hotel in Gettysburg was about 50 min. So I made sure and called ahead to the hotel to see if everything was ready for me to check-in and that there was someone at the front desk for me when I arrived. Got his name and I was good to go. The drive went smoothly. The check-in was even better. Got in my room got settled took a shower and was off to bed!
Day 2-09/08/2021: 1:10 pm. Not an early start to my day. Didn’t get to bed until about 3 am. So let’s just say I slept in a bit. Between the jet lag from the time zone change along with late-night check and whatnot, I took the morning off. But still a big day ahead. Today I will walk the Gettysburg National Cemetery The hallowed ground of hallowed grounds. 2:00 pm -The weather was warm out but I still got chills walking through the cemetery seeing the monuments and the site where Lincoln gave the address and the graves, so many graves. So I came to a point where I took a knee and gave my thanks. Hard to find the words for all those who as Lincoln said: “Gave the full measure of devotion” There was a clam to being on that hallowed ground that I’ve never felt before in a cemetery. It was quiet, humbling, and beautiful all at once. The pictures I took don’t do it justice. But I had to have something to take back with me to remember this day. As a former enlisted service member, it was an honor and a privilege to walk among those laid to rest in that their final resting home. Fortunately for me, the cemetery was within walking distance of my hotel and I was able to go to my room to freshen up and around 4 pm I walked over to the Pike Restaurant & Tap House to eat a late lunch and take in what I just experienced.
Day 3- 09/09/2021: 8:21 am. Wake up hop in the shower to meet up with Gary Vezza my personal tour guide of the Gettysburg Battle Fields and important landmarks of the area. I arrive at the Gettysburg Museum & Visitor Center around 8:55 am. As I walk into the museum and security checks my camera bag there is Gary right on time. We head out to the parking lot it’s hazy and cool out, looks like rain is on the way but it never comes. Perfect weather in my book. So we hop into Gary’s car for the tour… we start with a few simple landmarks and places of interest. General Meade’s HQ(see below top right) and then it was into the heart of Gettysburg to see where Lincoln stayed upon his visit at the David Wills House and where he put the finishing touches on the Gettysburg Address(see below the bottom right *red brick building) and the train station he pulled into. Homes preserved from that time in history with mortar shells showing on the outside of them from the battles that took place. General Lee’s HQ.(see below on the left) Simple but adequate. Then it was on to the battlefields. We ventured by Oak Ridge, Mc Pherson Ridge, through the McMillan woods then onto Pitzer Woods. Seeing amazing memorials along the way for both Union and Confederate. Then it was on to the more famous sites and battlegrounds at Devils Den, Little Round Top, Cemetery Ridge, and the Peach Orchard culminating at the High Water Mark and eventually the national cemetery near Cemetery Hill.
Seeing first hand the battlefields, monuments, farm homes still intact from that era was in a word… spectacular. It was quite a lot to take in after 2 hrs. I tried to take as many photos as I could but to be there where it actually happened pictures can’t replicate. The thickness of the woods and brush the vast points on the battlefields seeing firsthand Union and Confederate strategies alike in the back and forth of the battles, it was truly a day I will never forget. All along the way Gary stopping at major spots to allow me to take photos then pointing out what happened, why, and then what happened after. He was a great guide. The tour ended a little past 11:00 am. Then I walked through the museum and gift shop. Took a break, revisited the cemetery to gab a few more photos I wanted. Then it was off to lunch around 1:30 pm. The rest of the day was spent taking in the sights of the downtown area I also stopped to purchase a Gettysburg Ghost Tour for Friday night, I cant visit Gettysburg and not check that out! Grabbed a later dinner (pizza and wings) watched some T.V. then off to bed. I was exhausted.
Day 4-09/10/2021: Today was my last full day in Gettysburg and it was a light fun day. Woke up got some breakfast. Walked around the downtown area to look at some of the historic homes. Had lunch at a nice Italian restaurant called La Bella Italia. It was delicious. Came back to the room to take a nap. Went back into the downtown area to grab some souvenirs. Then around 8 pm, I took a Gettysburg: Ghost Tour. It was very interesting lots of great little known facts about the area and what the townspeople went through during and after the battles that raged on there. Also a few surprises I was not aware of. Most notably the Dobbins House Tavern was built in 1776, where at night Lincoln’s silhouette(ghost) still watches over the tavern. Great way to end the visit. Well, that was my visit to Gettysburg. I’m back home tomorrow morning let’s hope I don’t get stuck in a middle seat again!
Itinerary
- 9/7/2021- 11:50 PM:Check in at: Comfort Suites Near Gettsburg Battlefield Visitor Center
- 9/8/2021 -2:00 PM: Gettysburg National Cemetery
- 9/8/2021-4:00 PM : Pike Restreaunt and Tap House-Lunch
- 9/9/2021 -9:00 AM: Gettysburg Battlefield Tour
- 9/9/2021-11:03 AM: Gettysburg Musuem
- 9/9/2021-1:58 PM :-Montezuma Mexican restaurant- Lunch
- 9/9/2021-7:45 AM:- Pizza and wings-Dinner
- 9/10/2021-9:30 AM:- Breakfest
- 9/10/2021: 11:00 AM:-Walk around downtown
- 9/10/2021-1:30 PM: La Bella Italia-Lunch
- 9/10/2021-6:30 PM: Souvenir shopping downtown
- 9/10/2021-8:00 PM: Gettysburg: Ghost Tour
- 9/11/2021-1:03 PM: Departs Harrisburg, PA for home.