A Visit with History (Summer Vacation Challenge)

by SKermitgorf

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We hiked through Balls Bluff Virginia Battlefield, using sticks as fake guns. Crouching behind long since fallen and rotted trees we pretended to be Civil War soldiers.

There was a quietness to the atmosphere, the ground wet from the mornings rain. We could almost see and feel the ghosts of long dead Yankees and Rebs.
Stopping to read grave markers from the brave of both the North and South, we reflected on what happened to those who gave their lives, many were very young.
Taking photos as we hiked down to the water, watching a small waterfall, finding a salamander under a rock. Writing our names on a tree to mark our presence there for perpetuity.

We heard the sound of birds or the whistling of the tree branches in the breeze.
Back at the car, scraping mud off our shoes, but still glad we spent the day outdoors, having the battlefield all to ourselves, lone tourists appreciating our nations history.

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Comments

Average Reader Rating: 5.0 stars out of 5

  1. A Visit with History (Summer Vacation Challenge)

    Ana Cristina's Buddy Icon Ana Cristina

    Posted 2 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    There’s a quiet pacing throughout this piece that really matches the setting. Nicely done.

  2. A Visit with History (Summer Vacation Challenge)

    M.Paul Regret's Buddy Icon M.Paul Regret

    Posted 2 months ago

    Being a history buff, I appreciated this vacation story very much ,vivid, can almost feel being there.

  3. A Visit with History (Summer Vacation Challenge)

    Mistress Elsha Hawk's Buddy Icon Mistress Elsha Hawk

    Posted 2 months ago

    Note: scraping has one “p” and presence, not presents. :)

    I’ve been to Valley Forge and Gettysburg, it reminds me of that field trip…..

  4. A Visit with History (Summer Vacation Challenge)

    SKermitgorf's Buddy Icon SKermitgorf

    Posted 2 months ago

    Thanx Elsha, my grammer is usualy better than that.

  5. A Visit with History (Summer Vacation Challenge)

    Apostrophe 's Buddy Icon Apostrophe

    Posted 2 months ago

    omg I love this story.. It warms my heart that you chose to write about it. I will forever remember that day.. And treasure it forever in my heart. I still have those photos.. Thank you so much for writing this story. You immortalized this day. And I am glad that it was as special to you, as it was for me. :)

  6. A Visit with History (Summer Vacation Challenge)

    Blusparrow's Buddy Icon Blusparrow

    Posted 2 months ago

    5.0 out of 5 stars

    Have you been to Gettysburg before? It is creepy there. You can pratically see the people still fighting. Good explaination, I can picture the vacation.
    LoA

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