Day 2: Hillsville VA to Philadelphia PA

Rows of whitewashed stones stand at attention like the courageous soldiers who lie beneath them.  The drizzle quiets everything so much that far away I can hear a solemn voice speaking slowly, melodically.

“That we here resolve that these men shall not have died in vain,” he echoes, and I stand awed.  At sacrifice, at bravery, at wisdom and power.  Gettysburg is a moving site.  The fields of battle, the historic town, the museums, but most moving is the cemetery.  So many headstones.  So many bodies it took five months to properly bury them.

And on that ground, our tallest, quietest president stood humbly before thousands and rather than orate for two hours like the speaker before him, he spoke for five minutes.  Simple, but with power that rings through the ages.  His speech still stands, echoing to this rainy day, a sentinel of the true purpose of our nation.  I was awed.

The drive has been beautiful today, whether Virginia farms among misty mountains, or Civil War cottages.  We’ve enjoyed every minute of the scenery.

We can’t forget the Chipotle stop.

The sun sets over Lancaster’s multi-colored fields among misted clouds, a day well spent in wonder.  I’m writing this an hour from Philadelphia.  I rest, content; and yet I look forward to a new day, new wonders, and new remembrances.  Day three awaits.