Several years ago my wife and I traveled from our home in New Hampshire to visit a Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania; not just a battlefield, but the Gettysburg battlefield, a mammoth site where an equally mammoth strife between two sides each one populated with citizens of these same United States.
It was our only Civil War and it was fought and ended with the hope that families of these United States would never again raise their hands in anger against a fellow citizen of this country. Suffice to say that hope has held to this day and I personally believe that it is due to the unspoken message that this venue implants in each visitor who is fortunate enough to view.
Having spoken about this vista of beautiful and lush green rolling hills and valleys which could be mistaken for an immortal and seraphic ultra vacation site were it not for the ever-present reminders of the gory and grisly savagery that took place there during our only Civil War about a century and a half ago.
Our country lost very close to ten thousand of its sons, brothers, fathers and yes, even grandfathers while fighting each other over the issue of slavery which in itself is a form of savagery that should never have been in practice.
But this is not to debate or even discuss the morals or the shame and lack thereof of that issue at that time; it is, to be quite frank, about the current shameful plan that a small group of probably well-intentioned but terribly misguided people resident in that area who want to deface what President Lincoln and others since have termed 'hallowed grounds' by proposing a gambling casino about a half mile from these sacred places where our fellow countrymen were killed and wounded.
On our visit to this compelling site, my wife and I were immediately struck with the omnipresent and pervasive feeling that gloves your body and soul with a powerful and unspoken command demanding respect for the surrounding aura of what began there 150 years ago, in April 1861 and lasted four years until April 1865.
While there we saw dozens and more of students coming out of school busses to participate in historical studies right on the very grounds were important history was made. You could see and feel their uniform silence and awe at just being there; teachers spoke in very low voices, nearly whispering and the kids responded with nodding heads and grim faces. It is like being on holy and "hallowed grounds" which, of course, it really is.
About one month ago, the newly installed American Legion National Commander, Jimmie L. Foster of Anchorage, Alaska reaffirmed that the Legion, our nation's largest veterans' organization, is in opposition to the placement of the gambling casino in the Eisenhower Conference Center named for former President Dwight D. Eisenhower, a casual walk's distance from the revered and honored American battle ground.
Those who are pushing for this sort of an abomination are doing so right over the shadows of our deceased warriors who hail from every one of then existing states. These uncaring people persist in stating that it is strictly a "local" project and problem more or less telling non-Pennsylvanians to butt out.
I beg to differ with these callous and insensitive promoters of a ghastly error in judgment; the last thing that shrine to fellow Americans who gave their lives on those soils needs is a partying atmosphere with ribald noise and obtuse and often drunken behavior. It is a national park belonging to ALL Americans and it should be maintained in the dignified and proper manner of those who pay their respects in a burial ground for honored fellow American veterans.
There must be many venues in the large state of Pennsylvania that would gladly accept a business venture of this magnitude and character. And many of those places might even be willing to share a small percentage of the income to help provide for the upkeep and pristine presence of such a place as is the Gettysburg National Park.
Any readers here who would like to be a part of saving Gettysburg from the improper placement of a gambling casino in close proximity should register their opposition by contacting their Congressional representatives to stop this fouling of the atmosphere that should remain honorably restful to those departed veterans.
Gerald A. “Jerry” McConnell, 92, of Hampton, died Sunday, February 19, 2017, at the Merrimack Valley Hospice House in Haverhill, Mass., surrounded by his loved ones. He was born May 27, 1924 in Altoona, Pa., the fifth son of the late John E. and Grace (Fletcher) McConnell.
Jerry served ten years with the US Marine Corps and participated in the landing against Japanese Army on Guadalcanal and another ten years with the US Air Force. After moving to Hampton in 1957 he started his community activities serving in many capacities.
He shared 72 years of marriage with his wife Betty P. (Hamilton) McConnell. In addition to his wife, family members include nieces and nephews.
Several years ago my wife and I traveled from our home in New Hampshire to visit a Civil War battlefield in Pennsylvania; not just a battlefield, but the Gettysburg battlefield, a mammoth site where an equally mammoth strife between two sides each one populated with citizens of these same United States.
It was our only Civil War and it was fought and ended with the hope that families of these United States would never again raise their hands in anger against a fellow citizen of this country. Suffice to say that hope has held to this day and I personally believe that it is due to the unspoken message that this venue implants in each visitor who is fortunate enough to view.
