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Jan. 30, 2017
Millions of Americans laid down their weapons and made peace today after four years of enacting the Civil War’s greatest and deadliest battles. Participants flocked to the front lines from across the North and South to take part in the first of a long and storied tradition of civil war reenactments.
Brother fought brother, fathers fought their sons, and friendships were ripped asunder in the name of performing unforgettable historic events. When all was said and done, the Union was bitterly reunited, and the United States renewed its commitment to settling unmanageable political strife with armed conflict.
Participants also returned from the enactment with souvenirs like sabers, shell casings and personal diaries describing the friends they made, the experiences they shared, and the friends they lost. Others had the opportunity to leave behind a memento of their time on the field, such as a favorite poem or a severed limb. But these physical remembrances are nothing compared to the new perspective on American history surviving enactors walked (or hobbled) away with.
Official estimates vary, but it’s highly likely that more than three million men fought each other for their country. Such displays of patriotism and personal sacrifice are sure to renew every American’s commitment to civil discourse and civic engagement for at least a few years. It was a great success and people are hopeful that the reenacting of events like this one can keep history alive and remind Americans of the sacrifices that must be made for the sake of nation and ideology.
Abraham Lincoln, one of the event’s organizers, stated that the significance of the Civil War enactment must not be lost on future generations. “These battles, and their subsequent reenactments will be shining examples for American posterity,” Lincoln said. “I just hope we can bring out more families and barbeques to future events.”
