Posted on 07/31/2020 7:19:44 AM PDT by SJackson
eeping history alive in Gettysburg: How monument preservationists maintain symbols of the past
Behind each of the 1,328 monuments, there is a story -- a tale of many men who fought and died on the grounds during the Battle of Gettsyburg -- and a preservationist, who works diligently to keep the history alive.
"There is a small but mighty army that goes out every day, and they work their hardest," explained Mark Cochran, a monument preservationist. "It's their passion, but they make sure that the history is preserved."
Cochran says it's a troop of half a dozen park employees, who work all throughout the year pressure washing and waxing each monument until it shines. Their tireless work ensures that the park remains a relic representing decades past.
"I would like to think that if somebody was teleported from 1860's Gettysburg, and they were plunked in the park they would have a pretty good idea of where they were," laughed Cochran.
Mark Cochran gave us an inside look at how the job is done. He describes the work as meditative.
"You're washing it, and you're getting your rhythm," he explained. "You're going back and forth, and you have to be careful, of course. You wouldn't want to knock anything off the monument."
When it comes to waxing the bronze pieces, he says there is always one spot somewhere that is missed. Cochran adds there is always a common enemy - slowly leaving its marks on the monuments
"Not necessarily insect damage, but it's definitely weather and time," responded Cochran, when asked about what damages the monuments the most.
When it comes to time, Mark has put in over 3,000 hours -- sweating in the heat, and now, doing so all while wearing a mask.
"When it's a hot day you have the bronze reflecting heat back at you," explained Cochran. "You have a hot torch, and you have the heat from the sun so there's a lot of sweating on summer days when you're waxing. Even though, I'm hot, I'm sweating, and I'm dirty, the work that I put in is one small part of being able to preserve that history."
No problems with BLM, eh?
My College town, Gettysburg. The battlefield was a favorite college night parking place.
Met my wife and other swell coeds there. I adopted Getttysburg as my home town. my parents lived and died there. My father and my wife’s father attended Gettysburg college and Gettysburg Lutheran Seminary. my older brother Moved there and died there.
My wife’s grandfather was a civil engineer who built the Battlefield roads. A few of my Virginia ancestors fought there.
Y’all should visit
Yes I’ve visited several times—even though I live in CA—and on my last visit, went with an expert tour guide and we toured the Battlefield not geographically, but chronologically, so we toured it three times for each day of the battle.
And we walked Pickett’s charge, across the grass—no other tourists did that. Good way to get chiggers. . .
I love visiting Civil War Battlefields—they are amazing places. Holy ground. . .
It is a very special place. Every American should visit. Wonder how the Anfita crowd would do against either side in a battle?
Donald J. Trump @realDonaldTrump We have narrowed the Presidential Nomination Acceptance Speech, to be delivered on the final night of the Convention (Thursday), to two locations - The Great Battlefield of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, and the White House, Washington, D.C. We will announce the decision soon! 1:15 PM · Aug 10, 2020
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