I'm not sure if the following story is best representative of the fruits of an exciting and interesting middle school education or some serious irony. You judge for yourself.We were on on way, with friends Gary and Rosie, to visit the (at that time) the new Holocaust museum in Washington D.C. to be followed by a first ever trip to Colonial Williamsburg.
Although I'd been there before, a side trip to Gettysburg's National Battlfield seemed in order. We had all seen the film Gettysburg and I wanted the opportunity to point out to my friends the actual site of Professor Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain's and the 20th Maine regiments heroics. 
As we were standing on the now famous hill looking down at the infamous "Devils Den", several orange school buses pulled into the nearby parking lot.
Checking with my ever handy binoculars, they seemed to be from Alexandria, Virginia. Being teachers ourselves, we immediately recognized the drill, as the middle school teachers jumped off the buses and began creating order out of chaos. Soon the students were lining up in ranks facing the famous hill. "There going to charge us," I commented to my companions. Sure enough. There was a whistle, some yelling and 3 busloads of eager "civil war soldiers" started running up the hill. This was the moment that General Gouvenor Morris, who was standing right behind us had anticipated, when he ordered newly arriving Union regiments up the hill and to hold it at all hazards.
As we were standing on the now famous hill looking down at the infamous "Devils Den", several orange school buses pulled into the nearby parking lot.Checking with my ever handy binoculars, they seemed to be from Alexandria, Virginia. Being teachers ourselves, we immediately recognized the drill, as the middle school teachers jumped off the buses and began creating order out of chaos. Soon the students were lining up in ranks facing the famous hill. "There going to charge us," I commented to my companions. Sure enough. There was a whistle, some yelling and 3 busloads of eager "civil war soldiers" started running up the hill. This was the moment that General Gouvenor Morris, who was standing right behind us had anticipated, when he ordered newly arriving Union regiments up the hill and to hold it at all hazards.
As one might expect, being a fairly steep climb, some and then more and more "soldiers" slowed down at the pace. Finally, only a few stalwarts were still running while their comades continued the slow trudge up the hill. Finally, three young men, all black, staggered to a halt right in front of us. Hands on hips, bent over gasping for air, they looked up at us, when I shouted at them, "WHO ARE YOU," I was,no doubt, expecting the name of their school. Straightening up with raised arms, they all shouted in unison, 'WE'RE THE REBELS." And perhaps that was their schools mascot or maybe in a moment of excitement and irony, they really were the rebels. We all smiled and congratulated them on their accomplishment. 
8 comments:
Cute story, TB. You always manage to make me smile in the mornings.
Fun post!!! Great story!
As you know from the pictures on my blog, Little Round Top is my favorite place on earth to watch a sunset. My husband an I plan to live in G-burg sometime in the next 5 to 10 years. I'm sure that General GK Warren is very pleased to know that people from all over come to learn what happened there on July 2, 1863.
What a neat bit of impromptu reinactment. Love that shot of the lonely General standing on the hill.
Sounds like a fun experience!
We love visiting the Gettysburg battleground. The NC confederates sustained heavy casualties. Standing there...thinking...it is a very moving place.
Now that's a great story!
Were you surprised by their response?
Good story and nice pics.
Neat story.
Finally taking a moment to catch up... where do you find the time?????
Really appreciated the story about Frances Perkins. The name rang a bell - but I did not remember much. A sad story going on in Maine. Well, Maine and quite a few other places. The world is scary.
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