So I thought I was simply going to go today to Antietam and take some pictures of the battlefield. Well, I did that—or at least attempted to do that—but I also stumbled upon Sharpsburg Heritage Days. From that moment on, I looked at this day as a historic event that we are trying to remember, but today our attempt to remember the bloodiest day on our soil is mixed by our attempt to live our own modern lives.
Here’s what I came up with….
At the festival, I caught a Union re-enactor on his cell-phone standing guard over U.S. military uniform pieces from the Vietnam War. The flag at the base of the image is a Vietcong flag from 1968.
The site of the famous Brady-studio photo of the Dunker Church after the battle of Antietam.
The Maryland monument in front of Dunker Church, along the main road and mixed with the phone lines.
Without the corn, it's hard to tell this is the Cornfield.
The 14th Connecticut Volunteer Infantry memorial near the Bloody Lane.
Artillery demonstration for kids near Burnside Bridge.
Burnside Bridge
The nature of commemoration depends on preservation.
Great shots and lots to think about. Thanks for capturing the shot of the artillery training for the cub scouts. I am a volunteer at Antietam and did that program. We need to secure the “hearts and minds” of the next generation in as many ways as we can.
Jim Rosebrock
South From the North Woods
Totally agreed, Jim. I was completely impressed by your handle of those students. They were hooked on every word you had to share. It was a joy to stumble upon that demonstration and I walked away encouraged that there are great educators out there that are finding ways to connect students to our heritage in more ways than one. Thanks for your time at the battlefield and keep up the great work!
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