Last night Arthur and I drove to the Antietam Battlefield for the Annual Memorial Illumination. At this event over 23,000 candles are placed on the battlefield and according to the brochure "we light these candles tonight to honor those 23,110 soldiers, of both Blue and Gray, who were casualties of the Battle of Antietam on Sept. 17, 1862." This is the second time we have gone to the Illumination and it is both beautiful and heart-wrenching. Unfortunately, the photos above and below do not show how beautiful the fields are as this is a driving tour and you are not allowed to stop your car or get out so photos are taken out the window as you drive very slowly through the battlefield. It is beautiful because at times all you see is candles for as far as the eye can see and then you stop and think that each candle represents a casualty of that one battle and you want to cry.
wow this must be breathtaking to see in person i can't even imagine. what a great way to show respect to all that have passed during this battle though.
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