Chrissy and I went on a trip to see our two daughters, our granddaughter, our son-in-law and one daughter's boyfriend. We went to Marietta, GA and then to Duxbury, MA. While in both places we visited quite a few historic sites. Kennesaw Mountain National Battlefield Park was one of our sites. We hiked a few different trails to battle sites and memorials there. One of the things that was very noticeable to me was the the peaceful feeling and the sacred, holy feeling being there. I drove through the park many times while we were there going to different places and you could even feel it in the car driving through. There is no doubt in my mind that the men who battled there are there in spirit protecting that hallowed ground. Another site we went to was the Marietta National Military Cemetery where 10,132 officers and soldiers who died in defense of the Union from 1861 to 1865 are laid to rest. There are numerous other military personnel buried there who also served in military events ranging from the Civil War right through to the battles in the Middle East that we are still embroiled in. That feeling was there also and we walked through the cemetery with a feeling of sadness for so many who gave their lives in defense of our country and pure respect for them. Each of the states that had Civil War soldiers who are buried there, erected a monument to them. They were done with honor, respect and reverence towards God and religion.

In Duxbury, MA we went and saw the Pulpit Rock that some of the pilgrims worshiped at on Clark Island.

There was no misunderstanding of their faith and reverence towards God and religion. We also went and saw the monument to Miles Standish and climbed all 125 stairs to the top along with an 85 year old man who is a project manager for some of our space programs. Miles Standish was the one that protected and led the defense of the pilgrims.

He was a Captain in the military and never backed away from danger, even though he was the only trained soldier in the group. He lived to the age of 70! Then we saw the typical sites in Plymouth and also one that is often ignored and that many people are not aware of including local residents, The National Monument to the Forefathers. It honors the ideals and values of the Pilgrims and those embraced by the Founding Fathers of our country.

Coincidentally, I was reading a book that dealt with the history of Adolf Hitler from World War I through 1929 and his rise as an important figure in post-war Germany during our two weeks away. I have learned a lot about him and can see the mistakes that were made by those supporting him. He did start as someone wanting to do good. The rest was sad. Vladimir Putin of Russia is looked at as an evil man by many in the West. But the people of Russia look to him as a great leader and will probably honor him with statues when he is gone. Ronald Reagan was a great fighter for freedom in the world. Many foreigners hate him, yet we honor him. Robert E. Lee was the one that would allow the South to be free from Northern rule. Was he a bad man? No. In fact if you studied him, you would realize that he was a great leader and was torn by the horror of the Civil War. One of his greatest quotes was, "It is well that war is so terrible, Lest we should grow too fond of it." This is history. It is not something that should be changed, altered, scrubbed or hidden. Historical sites and monuments are rare. They should be studied and respected and most of all should be acknowledged as the link between us and those that they honor. I would never tear down a monument to anyone in history, including those who were later discovered to be evil or villainous or that were from the "other side". It is history. History is what we study and learn from and also study so that we hopefully don't repeat, but that is often what we do. Trying to change history or hide it is what many have done. Their rule usually ended by uprising from the those whose freedoms were stepped on by them. I honestly believe that those who we look back on in history are either paying for their actions or being blessed and honored for them. We will not affect that or change that. That is handled by God. Violence and destruction should only be used in defense, not in protest or appeal. Our country has fallen from its position as a light on a hill. We have let our rights and freedoms be taken from us, sat by and watched evil take place, did nothing as God was removed from our society and continued to elect those who would not help restore but would build power and wealth for them and their friends. Lincoln was convinced that the Civil War was the consequence and punishment to our country for breaking our national covenant with God and not putting an end to slavery. It cost us hundreds of thousands of us to correct this with his leadership. Today we are suffering again and I firmly believe it is from us as a country breaking our national covenant with God again. Removing God from our society and allowing the horror of abortion to continue on and to be defended by our leaders may be what is our cause for our suffering as a country. We cannot fight against Him or destroy His creations and think that we will not be punished. The final picture I posted is me with my beautiful granddaughter Harper.

This is why I try to right what is wrong, for our future and especially hers. Chaos and tyranny should not be in her future. I try to help make sure that they won't. Don't look to those who try to create chaos, alterations to history, disrespect, violence, crisis' and destruction; they will not be the answer to our future. Distance yourself from them, speak out against them, and look for those who want to restore. Go visit a monument in honor of our fallen, our ancestors or our history. Think of the sacrifices they made for us to be here. Then use the reverence you will gain to seek out what needs to be done to bring about a bright future and place us as the light on the hill to the world again. May our future be full of hope and joy and may God Bless America and us, we need it.