How the 1913 Gettysburg Reunion Came to Be the ‘Greatest Gathering of Conqueror and Conquered’
Wonderful article. Thanks so much for sharing.
Article so well defined how those who lived through the most hellacious 4 years of this nation's history. How they contemplated and commemorated an event that is so beyond our level of seeming possible. So moving to them that 50,000 70-100 year old men would venture out in failing health and old age to say good bye to fallen comrades.
One of my favorite side notes on this piece was this little snip-it......
President Wilson arrived and delivered yet another ingratiating tribute to warriors and warfare. In a brief and stilted address, Wilson insisted “We are made by these tragic, epic things to know what it costs to make a nation—the blood and sacrifice of multitudes of unknown men …
†Once again, few veterans were in attendance. Those who were present generally expressed disappointment. “President Wilson failed to stir the heart of the veterans,†observed one reporter, “not once was he interrupted by a handclap or a cheer.â€
Seems our wonderful veterans were pretty keen on what kind of person POTUS Wilson was.
Were they ever right.