Soldiers' National Cemetery

Welcome to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and to the solemn grounds of the Soldiers' National Cemetery. As you stand near the entrance, take a moment to absorb the profound quiet of this space. …

As we move along the main path, our first major stop is the impressive Lincoln Speech Memorial. Dedicated in nineteen twelve at a cost of five thousand dollars, this monument honors the profound words spoken by President Abraham…

Continuing our walk, you will begin to notice dark iron cannons standing like silent sentinels among the trees and gravestones. These are not merely decorative elements. …

We now approach the magnificent focal point of the cemetery, the towering Soldiers' National Monument. This breathtaking structure forms the exact center of the semicircular grave layout, serving as the architectural anchor of…

As we walk slightly away from the grand central monument, the landscape changes. We enter a section that carries a uniquely heavy burden of sorrow, the graves of the Unknowns. …

As we weave our way through the state sections, the individual stories of the men buried here begin to emerge from the endless rows of granite. Following the path halfway through the cemetery, we encounter the striking statue of…

The Soldiers' National Cemetery was conceived with a strict, unyielding mandate. It was to be the exclusive resting place for the loyal soldiers of the Union Army who fell defending the nation. …

We now step slightly away from the Civil War headstones and move toward the National Cemetery Annex. The landscape shifts slightly as we approach a beautifully detailed bronze sculpture that tells one of the most poignant,…

As our walking tour of the Soldiers' National Cemetery draws to a close, find a quiet vantage point looking back over the gentle, sweeping curves of the granite markers. It is essential to cast our minds back to the brisk…