But she needed to know the meaning of Gettysburg. And so I told her.
"Thousands of people died in these fields. They fought doing what they believed was right. Can you imagine racing straight towards cannons?"
We saw rows and rows of cannons and yes, soldiers bravely ran towards them.
"That would be scary," Natalie said.
"But they did it. They were someone's son. Brother. Uncle. They mattered. So it's not really appropriate to play around. Do you understand?"
Natalie nodded solemnly. "They gave their lives for their country. Like my Daddy would."
After that I think she understood. The cartwheels stopped.
She actually started reading the placards and memorials about the battles:
Of course we had fun moments. Pretending to fire cannons. A family photo. It didn't have to be completely serious.
But. My daughter said it best.
"They deserve our respect."
She got it.
The heart of Gettysburg.
Posts
We visited there for the 1st time this year. My oldest enjoys history and so she really enjoyed it. We took the car tour but it would have neat to do the bike or horseback tour. When we went there was a car show so my 4 yo loved it instead of complaining about anything.
ReplyDeleteWhen anyone speaks about the civil war battle Gettysburg comes to mind. Its nice your daughter visited the place and learnt about the history. These days kids are always on their phones and tabs. Its nice to see her getting to know about the history and culture.
ReplyDeleteAlways like the places full of sculptures, thank you for introducing one more.
ReplyDeleteI love how, just by talking to her about the Battle of Gettysburg, she knew how to act. Kids are so smart!
ReplyDeleteA very meaningful visit!
ReplyDeleteaws! how touching is this article! very inspirational and a perfect friday reflective reading! thank you! www.crayonized.com
ReplyDeleteI have wanted to go to Gettysburg forever! It is only about a 6 hour drive from me, so I NEED to make a weekend of it sometime soon.
ReplyDeleteI would love to visit Gettysburg. I hope we can manage it while we are here. I imagine the history you learn reading all the placards and signs is very informative.
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to go to Gettysburg. We are a history loving family, and try and visit historical locations whenever possible. Hopefully we will get to go one day soon.
ReplyDeleteLooks like your family had a great time visiting Gettysburg. Love the "aha" moment. Kids are amazing!
ReplyDeleteWow what an absolutely amazing looking place to visit, I would love to wander around and read about all the battles and history.
ReplyDeleteOne thing to read about the history and see pictures. But to actually stand and look around where these battles took place makes everything come to life and makes it more real.
ReplyDeleteI love your beautiful commentary on each of your stunning images! I'd love to visit Gettysburg someday. My husband and I may be joining my sister and her family on their summer 2018 cross-country road trip that will take us to Gettysburg and a whole host of other exciting and historical places. :-)
ReplyDeleteI've always been meaning to visit Gettysburg . Thank you for sharing a glimpse of this historical place as those photos are very meaningful.
ReplyDeleteThat's fantastic! We love bringing our kids to different sites and sharing the importance of each so they can not just hear about but SEE. I think it makes a big difference :)
ReplyDeleteI remember visiting Gettysburg as a child. It's so overwhelming to think of what happened there. But it's great to see when the kids understand what happened.
ReplyDeleteI really want to visit Gettysburg! I am so glad that you took your kids.
ReplyDeleteSuch a meaningful post. Your daughter is so understanding and compassionate.
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What a memorable trip this must have been. I remember visiting DC and Jamestown and a few other historic places when I was younger. I can only dream of taking my children to Arlington National Cemetery one day. My husband also served so our family has a large sense of pride in what so many have sacrificed.
ReplyDeleteI think it's always a good idea to take kids on trips where they learn about history and the country that they live in.
ReplyDeleteWow, loved the emotion behind this article. You did a wonderful job explaining the importance of the place and she understood because she was able to relate it to someone she knows and loves. God bless your husband and his service.
ReplyDeleteLoved how this piece was written. I really enjoyed how you tied the depth of what took place to a child's understanding.
ReplyDeletewww.internallifestyle.com
I visited Gettysburg a LONG time ago and don't really remember too much of it...I LOVE the picture of your daughter and her dad...such a great comment she made
ReplyDeleteI have not been to Gettysburg in years. I really enjoyed it when I went. It would be great to take my kids and let them see the heart of it as well. Great post!
ReplyDeleteMy husband visited Gettysburg when he was in his teens. He has been wanting to bring us back ever since.
ReplyDeleteI love that you took the time to go into the history of this wonderful place! I really hope I can visit there myself one day!
ReplyDeleteI haven't been here before but it looks gorgeous. The weather looks beautiful too!
ReplyDeleteIt was commendable the way she showed her respect post understanding the sacrifices of people. Good read
ReplyDeleteWhat a great learning experience and teaching her the sacrafices people have made. It looked like y'all had a great trip.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to Gettysburg but have been to other Civil War battle fields. I want to take my kids sometime when they are older and can understand more.
ReplyDeleteI can't even imagine how scary it must have been for those brave soldiers (and there families). Glad you explained and taught your daughter something so important - respect
ReplyDeleteWow! A beautiful place to bring your family. Hopefully we will get to go one day soon.
ReplyDeleteI have not heard of Gettysburg before but it is the type of place, I really enjoy visiting. I love history and find it really interesting reading about. What a great thing taking your daughter and teaching her about the sacrifice off others.
ReplyDeletewould love to visit Gettysburg. , I really enjoyed your writing :) Thanks for sharing!
ReplyDeleteA very well written post. We haven't been there yet with our kids but want to get there sometime in the next few years for a visit.
ReplyDeleteI love the history behind Gettysburg. It has always inspired me to do what I can for our country like these men did.
ReplyDeleteI agree that kids need to know the meanings of historical sites. I have been to Gettysburg and it is such a moving experience.
ReplyDeletegreat approach to a sensitive subject! having fun while still learning and taking all the very important things seriously! It's a place I'd love to visit someday too!
ReplyDeleteGettysburg is such an interesting place!
ReplyDeleteWe haven't gone to Gettysburg yet but my kids wants to see it as they learn it from school and seen in some movies but it is different when you are there. I am sure your daughter has a deeper appreciation of what she've learned.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a chance to visit Gettysburg. It is something that I wish that I had the opportunity to do when I lived in NC.. I was so close. :(
ReplyDeleteNatalie is so intelligent and I am so happy that she gets to learn what happen at Gettysburg. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteYour daughter sounds wise beyond her years there! What an important and good place for a Family day trip.
ReplyDeleteI've never been here before - but it sounds like a great place for a family day out, learning all the history x
ReplyDeleteJust amazing! This place is rich with history! Must have been a terrific place to take your family to. Always up for a great learning experience.
ReplyDeleteAw.. yeah. She got it all right. And fast!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous.
This was a poignant post! Love how you explained to Natalie the meaning of Gettysburg!
ReplyDeleteit's been so long since i've been to gettysburg. it's always great when kids understand the importance of something!
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Gettysburg and I'd like to visit some day. I love how you explained it all to Natalie and how she actually got it.
ReplyDeleteI would love to take my son there one day so he could see where the Battle happened. As for your daughter I am sure she understood and even learned from the experience.
ReplyDeleteThat is definitely on my list of places I want to explore. I think for sure all military deserve our respect and places like this give us the history that we need to remember where we came from.
ReplyDeleteQuite sad to think of all the things that happened there. Plus learning about the history would make it nice to visit.
ReplyDeleteI am really regretting that we didn't drop by at this place when we had our road trip to Hershey PA. My kids school participates to Gettysburg address competition but sadly, we haven't visited this place yet.
ReplyDeleteWe enjoy anything that is about history. So visiting Gettysburg would be right up something we enjoy doing.
ReplyDeleteoh goodness- what a great place to visit and such history to share with family and friends- i def think i need to bring my family here asap! thanks for sharing this!
ReplyDeleteThis is on my list of places to visit with my family. I would love to visit Gettysburg with my family this summer. So much amazing history.
ReplyDeleteAlthough it is cold here now going to Gettysburg on a family trip would be a great idea. It has so much history and the battle would be so interesting to learn about.
ReplyDeleteI've never been to Gettysburg. I will have to try to get there some day, I know that it sounds wonderful. I am so glad you shared some photos!
ReplyDeleteIt looks like a wonderful place for a visit! I've never been to Gettysburg, but I'd love to travel there one day! :)
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ReplyDeleteAlways bring me, with your stories, to the heart of your travels and your emotions. That's what I love reading.
This post reminded me of visiting battle fields as a kid. It is cool that your daughter gets it at such a young age.
ReplyDeleteFirst of all, WHAT A GORGEOUS DAY! And secondly, this outting reminds me of school field trips when I was younger. I lived on the east coast and we would always go to the colonial villages and such to learn about our founding fathers!
ReplyDeleteoh wow!!! I've never visited a battle field before but i can imagine how overwhelmed and emotional i would be. Great read.
ReplyDeleteChad
www.mosaicslab.com
I have always wanted to visit Gettysburg with the kids. I think they learn about history better when they can experience at least part of it. Great share
ReplyDeleteA place to learn about history and great to expose to kids and even adult like me love such places. Thanks for sharing your experience with so many pictures.
ReplyDeleteIt has been over 25 years since I have been there but your photos brought up such great memories. Our daughter was about the same age when we took her there.
ReplyDeleteWhen we take family trips, I love to go to places like this. There is no better way to learn about history than to be right there.
ReplyDeletemy parents used to live about thirty minutes from Gettysburg. It is a really interesting place to visit.
ReplyDeleteYes, They deserve our respect! It's so wonderful to hear these words from the youngest generation. It's our duty to teach them this!
ReplyDeleteSo far, the three of us had only been to Antietam Battlefield. Hubby had been to Gettysburg before and he wanted to take me and my son there too...soon, I hope.
ReplyDeleteVisiting the places that teach us about our history is actually a great idea to learn about that place and the events associated with it.
ReplyDeleteOh...my heart. I homeschool my boys, my oldest is currently writing a paper about the Gettysburg Address. What an amazing place to visit and a great opportunity to share its history.
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness! I love visiting the place with historical inside, and this really makes so amazed. Such a beautiful place.
ReplyDeleteWow! The place is so cool GETTYSBURG. The pictures in the broad day light looks stunning
ReplyDeleteI have always wanted to visit. Looks like you had a great time. I love history, so this would be awesome for me.
ReplyDeleteI need to take my son to Gettysburg, He loves history. I like that Natalie understand the value of the life and paid respect for it. Yes lot of people did ultimate sacrifice that is why we are living with freedom.
ReplyDeleteNever made it to gettysburg when I lived in America. Looks like it would have been a good place to visit
ReplyDeleteMy husband is from PA and I've never gotten to visit there yet. I have no idea why though!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely and heartwarming tour! I haven't visited Gettysburg yet. But I know how important it is to let the kids be in touch with history. Gives them an appreciation for the country as well as the people who have laid down their lives for a greater cause.
ReplyDeletePlaces that hold such heartfelt and important memories of a country like Gettysburg always deserve much respect. Cheers to all those fighters who fight for us!
ReplyDeletePretty amazing pictures as well as place, It is important to let our kids know their history. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experience with us.
ReplyDelete"Like my Daddy would", there is so much love and pride in that sentence. Beautiful post. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, It is really nice to teach the kids about history. My son will enjoy visiting Gettysburg.
ReplyDeleteI am very disappointed in myself I have traveled extensively in the USA and didn’t get a chance to check out Gettysburg- the pics tell a story great post!
ReplyDeleteExcellent place for a visit. Looks like you had a great time with your family at Gettysburg.
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