Antietam National Cemetery

About a mile or so from the Battlefield lies the National Cemetery. I have mentioned before, that I find these places very moving. The setting, the rows and rows of small white headstones. The fading inscriptions. The small flags placed beside some graves.

You are clearly aware of the numbers of men who died in this conflict. For us an event. For them and their families, an experience.

You do not feel you wish to just pay a perfunctory visit. Something makes you feel you want to spend time. Looking, thinking....almost a meditation.

I have visited a number of such cemeteries, large and small. The smallest will feature in my blog on Appomattox. They all make a deep impression on me. I suppose in our world, war is inevitable. There are some battles that just have to be fought.

But maybe, if we tried to run the World according to the Laws of God, just maybe we would not have to resort to armed conflict so often, so quickly, so easily.

In the end negotiations bring war to an end. That so many have to die before the stage of negotiation is reached is tragic.

But like I said, some wars just have to be fought.

Eternal Rest give unto them O Lord,
And let Perpetual Light shine upon them.
May they Rest in Peace.

Amen.