November 19, 1863

Four score and seven years ago

Our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation

conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. 

We are met on a great battlefield of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live.

It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground.

 The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.

  
The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.

It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.

It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us—that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom—and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.

6 years ago I was at Gettysburg.  We just happened to pick this date, the anniversary of the Gettysburg Address.  Because of this, there were reinactors EVERYWHERE! There was a MASSIVE parade, with fife and drum bands, everyone in period clothing of course! As we started going around to the different memorials along the tour, we noticed that at the state memorials, little ceremonies were going on, honoring those who fought in the Civil War. We stopped at only a few, but it was amazing. When we got to Little Round Top, there was a band playing period instruments, wearing period clothing, having a fireside of sorts. Unfortunately, we missed most of it, but I think we saw the most important part. The band played Amazing Grace, and then just as the sun was beginning to set, Taps was played overlooking the battlefield. I have to be honest... I got a little teary-eyed. It was one of the most spiritual places I've ever been. It was just amazing.

1.  It was something I will never forget.