Stop #5: Gettysburg, PA
If you've never been to the Gettysburg National Military Park Museum and Battlefield, you absolutely must go at some point in your life. If you happen to be parents to a four-year-old and six-year-old, you must ask them to reenact the battle as well. The video below is the first of many reenactments that day. You'll notice that we bought one gray, confederate hat and one blue, union hat. "I want to be on the blue team! The blue team always wins!" Yes, yes they do, son.
After watching a thing called a cyclorama (which is an absolutely fantastic piece of art, by the way), we trekked over to the Soldiers' National Monument so that I could check an item off my life's to-do list: "read the Gettysburg Address from the spot where Lincoln spoke it." Check.
7 score and 17 years after ol' Honest Abe spoke 272 words for the ages, we find our country still struggling to form a unified union...struggling in the fight against racism....struggling to move forward. We talked with the kids about the meaning of Lincoln's words and the relevance of them today. We talked about the causes that drove men to risk their lives in battle. My history-teaching wife is really great at this stuff. This is good, because without her, my kids were in for an hours-long, bore-you-to-sleep diatribe on things like: the other speaker at Gettysburg that day in 1863, Lincoln's life/career/political acumen/Team of Rivals/death, current events, other historical events, etc. What they got, thanks to her, were words far more succinct and memorable.
At a minimum, Careese and I are hoping this little trip (in conjunction with our Harpers Ferry visit and previous visits to other conversation-inducing locations) in some way creates within our kids an, "increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."
On to the next stop: Pittsburgh, PA.
7 score and 17 years after ol' Honest Abe spoke 272 words for the ages, we find our country still struggling to form a unified union...struggling in the fight against racism....struggling to move forward. We talked with the kids about the meaning of Lincoln's words and the relevance of them today. We talked about the causes that drove men to risk their lives in battle. My history-teaching wife is really great at this stuff. This is good, because without her, my kids were in for an hours-long, bore-you-to-sleep diatribe on things like: the other speaker at Gettysburg that day in 1863, Lincoln's life/career/political acumen/Team of Rivals/death, current events, other historical events, etc. What they got, thanks to her, were words far more succinct and memorable.
At a minimum, Careese and I are hoping this little trip (in conjunction with our Harpers Ferry visit and previous visits to other conversation-inducing locations) in some way creates within our kids an, "increased devotion to that cause for which they here gave the last full measure of devotion—that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain—that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom."
On to the next stop: Pittsburgh, PA.
Grab a copy of Struggle Bus
Testimonials
"This is a quick read that you won't regret if you're a parent. Picture a family with 4 kids in diapers and 6 kids in car seats. I laughed out loud when I read "50 percent of the day was spent changing diapers, 50% preparing meals, 50% preparing the unholy mess of carnage that was created at mealtime, 50% bathing children, and the rest of our time searching for missing shoes, coats, toothbrushes, and more. Seriously, though, WHERE DO MY KIDS KEEP PUTTING THEIR SHOES?" Give this a quick read on the beach and you won't regret it!"
— Customer Review
— Customer Review
"What a fun read! Every parent in America will be able to relate to many of the stories contained in these pages--even those with only 2 kiddos. If you are looking for a quick, easy read that is laugh-out-loud funny, this is the book! In a day and age where everything coming at us has a negative spin, this book will leave you with a sense of happiness by the end. Thanks, Josh, for telling your story. Thanks, also, for writing it in my primary language of sarcasm."
— Customer Review
— Customer Review
“I'd heard the story of the Struggle Bus, but only the outside, viral story.
This well-written, quick-reading, approachable, fascinating tale talks about the family dynamics, the funny anecdotes, the life lessons. I'm a bit reminded, perhaps, of the Grateful Dead tour bus history by Wavy Gravy, "Living With The Dead". I think this is going to be a classic of modern folklore and a reminder that the trials, tribulations, and excitement of family, internet celebrity, and living in close quarters are all enduring subjects. I'm going to read this book pretty often; I really enjoyed it.”
— Customer Review
This well-written, quick-reading, approachable, fascinating tale talks about the family dynamics, the funny anecdotes, the life lessons. I'm a bit reminded, perhaps, of the Grateful Dead tour bus history by Wavy Gravy, "Living With The Dead". I think this is going to be a classic of modern folklore and a reminder that the trials, tribulations, and excitement of family, internet celebrity, and living in close quarters are all enduring subjects. I'm going to read this book pretty often; I really enjoyed it.”
— Customer Review
Josh Wood, Author
