It has been several years since this particular group has gotten together – and it is always lots of laughs and long hours of catching up and reminiscing.  For many years the gathering place was our home in Park City.  But, more recently it has been the Singley (Nancy & Mike) Farm or home – which it was on this occasion.  Joining us, to round out the usual group of suspects, were Gary and Chuck from Wisconsin.  Besides providing breakfasts and dinners, the Singley’s were also activity planners.  For three days one was never sure what might transpire?!?!  What charade actions might bust us all up while playing Heads Up.  Or, when Gary might show up in the kitchen with a bug zapper (or why??) – – –

G brings out the “BugGun”, which effectively zaps flies with a blast of salt.

Since clocks and watches are near and dear to their hearts (100’s in their home and a daughter who is an horologist), one planned activity was the nearby National Watch and Clock Museum.  Fun Fact learned there – As early as 4200 BC, the Egyptians had noted that Sirius the Dog Star rose in the morning once a year directly in line with the sun.  Guess how many sunrises between this annual event?  365 days!!  Our calendar dates back to 4200 BC.  There were many other fun facts to learn here about time and many interesting clocks to see.

This is one BIG timepiece.

Ok gang.  Time (no pun intended) to move on to Hershey and take care of E’s chocolate fix.  The trip there took us thru Amish country and it was about time for all the Sunday visits to take place.  So – lots of families on their way.

Encountered numerous buggies on the way to Sunday afternoon activities.

And then- -E was in heaven.  Hershey, PA – home of all that chocolate you eat every day;-)

Who is the BIG kid here?!?!?

Another day – another experience.  This one was much more sobering, as we moved on to Gettysburg, a National Military Park.  Before we took to the battlefield on our Segways, we wandered the town of Gettysburg.  It is not always remembered that after the three days of battle here, this little town was left in shambles with over 51,000 soldiers dead on the battlefield, wounded or missing.  It is also not always remembered that President Lincoln came here and delivered that famous Gettysburg Address to dedicate a proper burial ground for the Union dead FOUR months after the terrible three days of battle.   On those two days in November, Lincoln was a guest of David Wills in his house, where he completed his famous address.  It was a pleasure for E to meet up and take a look at that house – –

An encounter with Honest Abe just outside the Wills house.

The ‘crew’ in front of the historic house.

One more encounter with the President where he borrowed G’s Riff’s Music Cap.

It was almost time to get really serious and tour the battlefield.  But, before we could do that there was a lot of training on the Segway – our transportation for the tour.

Learning to master the Segway.

It was now time to tackle the outside world and begin the really serious part of our tour with Fran – a fantastic guide thru those three fateful days in July, 1863.

The grounds that WERE the battlefield have been restored and maintained much as they were in 1863 in order to provide an accurate picture of those three fateful days.  The fences, hills, rocks, cannon, and even the monuments provide an opportunity to reflect and make a feeble attempt to understand what happened here.  Even so, it is impossible to comprehend and to wrap ones arms around the fact that more men fell during this battle than in any other battle on American soil before or since.  What appear to be peaceful rolling fields pay silent tribute to this sacrifice.

Our guide, Fran, conveyed more information than we could possibly retain.

Cannons and memorials to State regiments are in actual battle places – the Pennsylvania Memorial is in the distance.

It is very hard to look at these wide open fields and imagine 1,000’s of men lined up just in front of us and then across the field.  Those across the field are marching toward us in  exposed lines and are being pelted with cannons and guns.  Just as the sun was setting on us at the end of our tour – the sun set on 50,000 men who would never know if they fought in vain.  We should never let their memory die, whether they fought for the North or the South.

A very moving discussion of Pickett’s Charge on the final day of the Battle of Gettysburg.

The time with our friends in York, PA was fun, silly, memorable, moving, tasty but most of all HAPPY;-)

E & G – grateful for friends and for our history – ALL of it!