Gettysburg, PA
Gettysburg was one of our stops during our first year of full time RVing. We returned this year, because it is a very important landmark, and it was along the way to our next stop, visiting New Jersey. The weather was wonderful during our stay. We took an audio tour of the battlefields, which I would definitely recommend. The many monuments were stunning. It really is hard to imagine the horrors that took place on these hallowed grounds.
Unfortunately, as we expected, the National Parks museum was closed due to the pandemic. It is a fantastic museum, and we would suggest it as a must do when you are in the area, if you have the time. We were sorry we were not able to go back to the museum on this trip.
The Battle of Gettysburg was fought July 1–3, 1863, in and around the town of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, by Union and Confederate forces during the American Civil War. The battle involved the largest number of casualties of the entire war and is often described as the war's turning point due to the Union's decisive victory and concurrence with the Siege of Vicksburg. Union Maj. Gen. George Meade's Army of the Potomac defeated attacks by Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia, halting Lee's invasion of the North.
As I walked through Gettysburg's battlefields, I could picture the troops involved in the fight and the bodies of those who gave their lives. We heard how they had to march hundreds of miles to get there, dig trenches, set up camp and then fight the next morning.
As a member of the service, I know what it is to follow orders that may be an endangerment and also having the responsibility of having to give those orders to others. These men believed in their mission to their beliefs, whether or not they are accepted in todays world. They fought for what they thought was a good and moral reason in their hearts, many lost their lives for those reasons.
We were able to visit Eisenhower's National Historic Site located in Gettysburg. While the buildings were not open, the property was open, allowing us to wander around at a leisurely pace. We located an app which guided us around the property, so we understood what we were looking at. President Eisenhower and family visited and entertained here on weekends while he was president. There was a helicopter landing area built for him on the property. A beautiful farm, animals included. I'm sure the President enjoyed his time here.
After leaving Pennsylvania, we traveled to New Jersey. For some reason, we both neglected to take photos while there, we were too busy visiting family and friends.
I did take a photo of an abandoned WWII bunker on the beach in Cape May, photo was taken from the lighthouse, which we visited with my brother and sister in law, Jim and Donna. No photos of the lighthouse however, we were too busy catching up. It is always fun to hang out with them, was a great day.
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| Photo courtesy of Jim Barnes |
In addition, we spend a great day at Basco Village visiting with friends Claire and Carter. Claire and I have been friends since grade school. She has always been so important to me, it is possible that we were neighbors in the nursery on the day we were born, since it was on the same day, in the same hospital. So glad we were able to catch up. Always a great time when we get together.
We also had the pleasure of having lunch with my Aunt Ann and Uncle Bud in Long Beach Island. It was great catching up with them. We were lucky that they had the time, as they spend a lot of time at their grandchildren's sporting events. It was so nice to spend time with them.
Our last family visit was a surprise visit to my Aunt Peg, She is not an easy person to get in touch with, but we tracked her down with a surprise visit to her home. I prefered to make arrangements rather than ambushing her, but since she did not return my calls, we just showed up. I think she was glad to see us, I know it was great to see her. We had a very nice visit. We love spending time in New Jersey visiting family and friends.
If you look at above photo you can see very faintly at the top left the NYC skyline in the background. This is the beach I played on when I was a kid. For some reason Dave is always willing to take a trip down memory lane with me when we return to NJ, including a a trip to my old homestead.
These rides are the same rides I rode on as a small child. They keep fixing them up and open them up for the next generation. Its nice to see. The rides weren't open yet, but it was obvious they were getting ready for the season.
Just across the street from the rides I rode as a child, was the bar I worked at while I going to the local Community College. I have some interesting memories there. The bar is now gone, and a high rise is in it's place. I guess some things have changed.
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