Many of the historic civil war
battlefields that marked the bloodiest war in American history are disappearing. There is
currently a car lot within Gettysburg
National Military Park. It will soon be removed and the land will be restored to its appearance in 1863. In the Spotsylvania region of Virginia, there is nothing but housing. And a Pizza Hut now stands at the site of the Battle of Franklin. The satisfaction of wants and desires has taken precidence over the preservation of national landmarks. Many Civil War
battlefields are now part of everyday life. There may be a marker designating it as a historical site, but other than that, there is no recognition of the bloody struggle that took place at each of the locations. The Civil War may not have been the high point of our history as a nation, but is remains a part of our history, and we must honor those who died fighting for what they thought was right. There must be some memorial for one of the few wars fought on American soil, but there is rarely anything. The pathway of our future can ony be secured with knowledge and respect for the past, and the past can only be respected if it is recognized.