Taking life for granted

During my childhood I spent weeks living abroad. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I spent a considerable amount of time in Canada, but I also went to China a few times visiting my mother's side of the family. The last time I had an extended stay in the motherland was more than twenty-years ago.

My co-worker asked me if I knew where my grandparents were from. I do, but in the most general sense. On my mother's side, my grandfather was a general in the Chinese Army, serving under the Intelligence unit (at least from what I gathered). My maternal grandmother was his second wife. They lived in the "city" of Canton, in the province of Guangzhou (or Guangdong). When I went to China I had the luxury of staying with my grandparents who had a flushing toilet. It flushed, only when you poured water into the bowl. We didn't have a bathroom with a tub. Instead, we showered on the roof top occasionally in a plastic tub. And there were rats in the complex. This was the City mind you.

Above, Toisan
Below, Hoiping

However, my paternal grandparents were from the same province, but literally from the villages of Toishan (Toisan) and Hoiping. No one else from my family has visited the village except for me, and I don't even know which village, but most likely Toisan since it is a male centered society. For a three year old, I remember seeing where my father was born, where my grandfather was raised. These are shoddy recollections I have. A dirty waterhole in the middle of the village utilized for cooking, drinking, and washing. Farm animals literally out and about, and villagers. Chinese villagers. My father took me to the burial site of some of our ancestors, but if you asked me who I wouldn't be able to tell you. There are two strong memories I have of the village, one is walking into the "brick house" structure where my grandfather lived prior to leaving for the US. I remember asking my dad where he slept (later of course, I find out he moved to Hong Kong at the age of one). How did he get on the ledge? Why weren't there any windows? This is rural poverty. The memories still stay with me to this day, even though I have not been back since. And I know nothing has really changed in the country-side. China is still quite dependent on their agricultural sector.

I was perplexed about the dirt floor. Surprisingly, I don't remember being an obscene brat on this trip. The second memory I have is of my father talking to one of the villagers (clan members, whatever). I know I must have been bothering him because my dad told me that if I caught a chicken I could take it home. Now, as a three year old, you take that stuff literally. So I chased a chicken until I caught it (which was incredibly hard).

The last thing I remember is while working through the agricultural fields a fire was burning nearby. I know this happened because my parents brought their video-recorder and thought they turned it off. It's sort of funny seeing the camera sway back and forth with glimpses of smoke. This was perhaps not the ideal situation my parents imagined when they went to venture out to the country-side.

Gettysburg

Here are a few photos of my trip to Gettysburg Military National Park. Being the history dork I am, I took a ton of photos, without myself being in many shots. For the most part, Gettysburg is really just a field, with monuments dedicated to each side, Union and Confederate. Walking over the battlefield, I tried to comprehend all the blood shed that took place here, all the young men that died fighting for a cause each believed was the "right thing." In the end, this battle became the turning point for the Union, even with the enormous casualties suffered.

What is the significance of Gettysburg, outside of the quickest speech any influential man had given at this time? Because of this battle, the United States began implementing cemeteries to commemorate soldiers who died during battle. Truth be told, the cemetery right across the street from the visitor center only has Union soldiers buried there. This came about when the farmers in the town of Gettysburg returned to work on their fields. Upon plowing the fields, the farmers not only turn over the soil, they also unearthed the bodies of the dead soldiers. Extremely shallow graves were dug in haste to continue with the battle. Rain also contributed to the exposure of fallen soldiers. One has to understand why people would return to such blood-stained grounds. Well remember, even back in the mid-19th century America most Americans livelihood still consisted of agricultural resources. Of course the horrors of the farmers churning over the soldiers dead bodies brought an outcry and thus began the cemeteries memorializing our fallen heroes. Unfortunately I was too tired to look through the entire National Cemetery. Part of me was hesitant, and another part of me just wanted to briefly walk in and pay a silent respect.

Most people would not really care to look around field after field of monuments. In fact, most people would not spend over five hours of their own time traversing across the small town that is Gettysburg. I have never been to the east coast, let alone visit any site pertaining to two of the greatest wars battled on American soil. The only war memorial I visited as a child was the Pearl Harbor memorial in Pearl Harbor. Gettysburg may not have been as moving as Pearl Harbor, but the vast open space made me realize how terrifying the field was. Regardless of advancement in military weaponry, war is violent. To which degree of violence, many can speculate. I find it ironic how much I romanticize these battlegrounds, pondering meetings of Generals coming through the mist-filled fields. We forget sometimes how civil wars once were, where leaders met their opponents, shook hands, and then returned to their respective places. Each side would look at one another, and then charge. Of all the monuments I visited here at Gettysburg, General Longstreet's bronze casting seen to the left, and above right, was perhaps the most captivating. A single, and solemn set of flowers was set down next to Longstreet's bronze casting (he was a General for the Confederate Army). My friend Kim and I were unable to visit, nor did we see, Robert E. Lee's command post because it looked as though the house was under renovation of some sort. Yes, Lee's Army of Northern Virginia.

If the opportunity arises again, I will return to Gettysburg. The rolling hills, vast open fields, and quaint little town still has so much for me to explore and fully understand. Even if you have the opportunity to drive through, I would say do so. All the park rangers, volunteers, attendants and so on are so passionate about Gettysburg (as are all of those at any of the Military National Parks in America I am sure).

Northern battle grounds, near Pickett's Charge.
Army of the Potomac
(Top and Bottom)

At the Eternal Flame memorial, ground held by the Army of Northern Virginia during Gettysburg.