Soldiers National Monument

On Monday I made a quick visit to the Gettysburg National Cemetery,  final resting place for more than 3,500 Union soldiers killed in the Battle of Gettysburg. And today I'd like to share my images of the Soldiers' National Monument, located on the site believed to be where President Lincoln delivered his Gettysburg Address.  

Since moving to Gettysburg in the fall of 2011, I've visited the National Cemetery a few times, discovering something new each time.  For instance, I've seen the Soldier's National Monument but until now (with a bit of research) didn't know particulars about the monument, that is, who sculpted it, who the figures represent . . . and more.  To obtain this information, I needed to visit  only one site--Gettysburg Daily (a blog currently on hiatus).  If you want the whole story, check out the link below.

http://www.gettysburgdaily.com/?p=10987

If you've time only for a brief highlight, stay with me a moment more. 

Sculpted by Randolph Rogers (an American Neoclassical sculpture who lived mostly in Italy), the 60 foot-high monument is the lofty foothold of Liberty, who holds in her right hand the "victor's wreath of laurel." Far below her sit the embodiments of History, War, Peace, and Plenty. History, represented by the muse Clio (we met her earlier this year in my post February 12 post) writes of the heroic deeds reported to her by War, in the form of a solder.

While gracing the other side of the twenty-five foot square base are the figures of Plenty and Peace.

However, for me, the magnificence of this sculpture is humbled among the many marked and unmarked monuments to the fallen of the Battle of Gettysburg.

Check back next week for a look at another major monument in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.

Until next time . . .

Georgia Anne