Gettysburg

[peatoluser]

Well done Dave.
too often as conflicts fade into history we  forget the sacrifices that previous generations made, some like Hans making the ultimate one.
you and your son should be justly proud of your achievment

peter

[steamer]

Thanks Pete.

One of Hans's quotes.

He was a Dane..as his English...well  You understand it.  He was a piano case maker, but more importantly, he was a former soldier in the Prussian Army.

"Freedom here and everywhere the same!  I gladly give my life in it's defense, I would give more if I could"

He wasn't even a US citizen when he volunteered.  He counted towards the quota of men for the City...so someone else didn't have to go because he did.

My son and I consider it an honor to be of some small assistance.   More importantly...it was a great learning opportunity for my son. 

Dave

[sshire]

Dave
I know that Hans' stone has been a major project for William ( with some help from you).  He should realize that what he has done is something that very few adults, let alone a person his age, could carry to completion. Bravo, William!

[b.lindsey]

Kudos to you and William both Dave. I would love to see the new marker in place too and hope that one day William may have the chance to tour the battlefield as you did.

Bill

[steamer]

I took some pictures this morning on my way to work....I'll get them loaded up by tonight...It looks awesome!

Dave

[Don1966]

Bravo Dave, for you and Williams efforts to keep a memory alive for a fallen hero. People tend to forget the sacrifices these souls went though for us. Your a great dad to do that for William.

Don

[steamer]

Thanks Don!......I'm tryin...

[steamer]

Here's a photo...

[b.lindsey]

That's beautiful Dave. Thanks so much for posting the picture of it!! A very fitting tribute too.

Bill

[Don1966]

That's just awesome Dave, and beautifully done.

Don

[Maryak]

That's beautiful Dave. Thanks so much for posting the picture of it!! A very fitting tribute too.

Bill

Yes...............please say well done to William from his honourary Oz Gramps.

Best Regards
Bob

[steamer]

That's beautiful Dave. Thanks so much for posting the picture of it!! A very fitting tribute too.

Bill

Yes...............please say well done to William from his honourary Oz Gramps.

Best Regards
Bob

He will hear it too!.....for his Ozzy Gramps!

 

Dave

[PStechPaul]

I'm glad you had a chance to go to the battlefield and absorb the enormity of what happened there and at many other locations nearby. I visited Gettysburg with my grandmother when I was a youngster and again as an adult probably 25-30 years ago. Other famous Civil War sites in the vicinity are Antietam (supposedly bloodier than Gettysburg), and Harper's Ferry, where the abolitionist John Brown made his famous raid. We must learn from history, or are doomed to repeat it, and sadly I think many young people do not have much of a clue about famous events, important people, and geography.

[Mosey]

They do have a clue about other things, things that we don't know or care about. They are running the place now.
Mosey

[steamer]

Yesterday was the rededication ceremony for Hans Peter Jorgensen.   As some of you may remember, he's a local Civil War solder who was killed at Gettysburg at the business end of Pickett's charge.

My son was given the task of writing a persuasive letter to solicit donations, which he was successful.     He then cleaned the old stone to verify the inscription, and we ordered a new stone and had it set.

The Massachusetts 15th Volunteer Re-enactment group was there and we marched to the cemetery...in full gear.   They gave William the honor of carrying the colors for the 15th...I have no doubt that will be in the Newspaper this morning.

It went well!   The Sargent of the guard , who is the groups historian, read a brief bio of Hans, and then I read his obituary that was written in 1863 in the "Spy" newspaper.

There was then a 3 volley salute.

It kind of broke up from there, though we were offered a chance to "camp" with them at their next re-enactment.

All in all, a great day, my son gained some appreciation for those for fought for our freedom before us, and I got something done that I wanted to do for the last 20 years.

Doesn't get any better than that!

Today we may be going to visit a REAL long lost relative .....Nathaniel.....from the 1660's or so...we'll see what the state of the state is once she wakes up..

Dave