Welcome! We honored our military dead on Memorial Day. I thank God for veterans who gave their lives to protect and defend ours.
I’ve been a Civil War enthusiast since I was eight years old. The magnitude of courage and death the war encapsulates still brings me to tears. More than 600,000 men died during the Civil War, north and south, leaving hundreds of thousands of widows and orphans behind. It’s no wonder the grieving wanted to honor their military dead.
Memorial Day was originally called Decoration Day, a day when families placed flowers on loved ones’ graves. Waterloo, New York, may have been the site of the first Decoration Day celebration. Memorial Day wasn’t made an official Federal holiday until 1971, but it has been celebrated since May 5, 1866 in Waterloo, New York.
If you want to honor military dead, visit Rocky Glen Cemetery in Adamsville. More than 200 veterans were laid to rest at Rocky Glen Cemetery: One Revolutionary War veteran, Adam Orry, for whom Adamsville was named; 24 Civil War veterans; 37 World War I veterans; 111 World War II veterans; 24 from the Korean War, 16 from the Vietnam War, and three from the Persian Gulf. Our community clearly believed in defending our country during all these wars. I praise God for these brave soldiers.
I’ve watched dozens of movies and read many books about the Civil War. “Gettysburg” is still one of my favorites, even 25 years after it premiered. Part of the reason I love this movie is because it shows the enormity of the battle. It demonstrates how vital this union victory was and how desperate their situation had become because of poor leadership.
My favorite scenes are when Brigadier General John Buford describes what he fears will happen at Gettysburg and what he and his cavalry corps can do to prevent it. The gist of it is they have to stave off Confederate troops long enough for Major General John Reynolds and his infantry to arrive. This way they can keep the Confederates from taking the high ground – Little Round Top, Big Round Top, and Devil’s Den.
See, the Battle of Fredericksburg was still fresh in their minds. The previous December thousands of Union troops charged up a hill called Marye’s Heights in a frontal assault. The Confederates held the high ground. Their cannon faced the bottom of the hill, and they slaughtered wave after wave of Union soldiers who bravely marched uphill to their deaths. It was murderous. Buford couldn’t bear to let that happen again.
God placed John Buford at Gettysburg before anyone else arrived, gave him a plan, and helped him execute it. General Buford’s plan worked. His cavalry held off the Confederates until General Reynolds’ troops reached Gettysburg. Union soldiers occupied Little Round Top and Devil’s Den by nightfall. They defended these hills under Confederate attacks. The Union won the Battle of Gettysburg on July 3, 1863.
The following day Vicksburg fell to Union soldiers under the command of General Ulysses S. Grant. The victories at Gettysburg and Vicksburg turned the tide of the Civil War for the north.
John Buford died of typhoid fever on December 16, 1863. Had Gettysburg been fought only five months later, he couldn’t have formulated the strategy that helped win the battle. God used Brigadier General John Buford on July 1, 1863 to help secure a crucial Union victory. Buford was obviously open to God’s will and followed it, whether he was aware of God’s presence and purpose in the battle or not.
Over the past year or so I’ve come to understand and marvel at the truth of Ecclesiastes 3:1, “To everything there is a season, A time for every purpose under heaven….” (NKJV) I’ve been struck by how many things I’ve been able to do during certain periods of my life that I couldn’t have done if I’d dragged my feet or rushed.
I hope you take time this week to reflect on this season. Where has God placed you? He has a purpose for you in this season. Be available, as John Buford was, and see what God does with it.
One last reminder: Jim Saulsbery is hosting a sewing and quilting sale on June 8 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. and June 9 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Adamsville United Presbyterian Church. Quilting fabric and batting, quilting kits, books, magazines and patterns, clothing patterns, zippers, thread, and wall hanging panels will be available for purchase. This is a cash only sale. All these fabrics and notions belonged to the late Barb Saulsbery. Barb was a gifted, passionate quilter and seamstress. I’m sure these fabrics and notions will be top of the line. Don’t miss this sale if you’re a quilter.
Have a wonderful week. Blessings!