We will survive

Sometimes we miss lessons in history because notable dates and events are often not recognized as holidays or otherwise treated as special. There are no fireworks or special sales. Usually they are only noted by historians. Such a time was last Wednesday through Friday.  July 3rd was the 157th anniversary of the final day the Battle of Gettysburg. I remember partly because I am a history buff - my major in college was history and political science. And partly because my great-grandfather was there that fateful day.

My great-grandfather Anson Elisha Wright was born in Bristol Vermont and enlisted in the Union Army during the Civil War. He was with the 14th Vermont Regiment which was in the middle of the Union lines on Cemetery Ridge when General George Pickett lead his fateful charge. The Confederate Army was repulsed and retreated and never threatened the North again. It cost 20,000 killed and wounded on either side, the bloodiest battle of the war and though  the war didn't officially end for almost 2 years, it was the turning point where the South's destiny was sealed. 

All that to say, while these past months and years have been rough, we have been through worse times. We were literally split in two as a country, fighting state against state, brother against brother.

And yet we survived. Because people stood up for what was right.

And that is our call. Remember the tough times this country has come through. Don't forget your history. Between the Great Depression, the Spanish Flu, both World Wars, as well as the Civil War, we have had tough times to endure. Scandals galore. And continue to stand up and not only believe that we will get through this, but act on it as you can. 

Remember in 2008, not that long ago, we elected and reelected Barack Obama, an African American, to be President , an event that was unimaginable before that in my lifetime. That was us also, we can and will do better I believe.