But now it is time to pause and take a moment to reflect on the magnitude of what happened here 150 years ago. To set the stage for this commemoration ceremony, i would like to welcome superintendent jim northrup to say a few words. [applause] well, good evening. As amy said, my name is jim northup. It is my great privilege to serve as the superintendent. Im here to join with amy and our hosts to welcome you and thank you for coming to this very important element in the 150th anniversary events here at cedar creek. Amidst all the activity that is taking place around us, we are gathered at this place in this moment to remember exactly what happened here. And to remember all of those who were killed or wounded on this battlefield. As all of you know, on october 19, 1864, a great battle was fought here. A battle that secured the Shenandoah Valley of virginia for the union, and a battle that is credited with propelling president Abraham Lincoln to reelection. We also talk a great deal about the interesting tactics associated with the battle. The risky surprise attack, the Great Success of the Confederate Forces in the morning, general sheridans famous ride from winchester and the union counterattack. But what we dont talk about quite as much are the lives of the young men who fought here. Approximately 46,000 men from 25 states, 17 for the union, and 8 for the confederacy, approximately 1000 of whom were killed or mortally wounded on this ground. With another 7600 wounded or captured. The secondlargest and the second bloodiest battle fought in the Shenandoah Valley. This evening, we gather in this tranquil setting with signal nob in the distance and the beautiful Belle Grove Plantation house behind us to remember those men, their bravery and their sacrifice and the impact of the loss on their families that lasted for generations. Cedar creek and Belle Grove National Historical park is not just about this battle. It is a park that tells the story of this part of the Shenandoah Valley from native american use of this landscape to early settlement through a rich agricultural period and a plantation era to the civil war and beyond. But today, we take a moment to think only about one thing. To honor the men who fought and died here at the battle of cedar creek. As stewards of this land today, we must never forget. Welcome, and thank you for joining us. [applause] 150 years ago at this moment, this field would have been filled with union camps. Soldiers would have been sitting around the fire talking about what has been going on or perhaps who would be the best candidate for the president ial election in three weeks. Would lincoln be reelected . Would mcclellan be the better choice . Which candidate would bring the end to this war . At the same time that the relaxing atmosphere was here at belle grove, the environment was completely different over at fishers hill. The air at fishers hill was probably filled with electric nervous energy. The Confederate Army of the valley was having their last meal before they would be marching through the night to surprise the camps sitting unaware here at belle grove. 150 years ago tomorrow, this landscape will erupt with the sounds of war. The sun will set tomorrow in the valley with almost 1000 men lying in these fields with tattered tents and camp supplies strewn everywhere. By tomorrow evening, the Union Soldiers will return to their camps here victorious but solemn. What took place here has changed the course of the Shenandoah Valley for the rest of the war. At this place, we find the last major battle of the valley that not only secured this corridor for the union, boosted the votes for lincolns reelection, and contributed to the beginning of the end of the war. This place here in the Shenandoah Valley has significance for our local community, the commonwealth, and the nation. Its effects are farreaching and forever remembered. To recognize the impact of the battle of cedar creek had on the commonwealth of virginia, governor mcauliffe has issued a proclamation recognizing tomorrow as the 150th anniversary. Here to read the proclamation, it is my pleasure to introduce kristin lays, the executive director of belle grove incorporated. [applause] by virtue of the Authority Vested by the constitution of virginia and the governor of the commonwealth of virginia, there is hereby officially recognized the 150th anniversary of the battle of cedar creek. Whereas the events of the civil war have left a mark on our commonwealth and whereas the events surrounding the war and the war itself led to the ultimate abolition of slavery and whereas the fertile Shenandoah Valley, the breadbasket of the confederacy witnessed repeated campaigns and battles for control over its resources and access to washington, d. C. , during the civil war, and whereas the Confederate Army of the valley under the direction of Lieutenant General jubal a early initiated a surprise attack in the Early Morning of october 19, 1864 that pushed the federal army back in defeat. And whereas Major General philip sheridans ride from to middletown to rally the army of the shenandoah cemented his status in American History as an iconic American Military general. And whereas the union army of the shenandoah launched a successful afternoon counter attack that marks the end of the confederate control of the Shenandoah Valley and whereas more than 8000 union and confederate men were killed, wounded, or captured that day and the second bloodiest battle in the Shenandoah Valley. And whereas the defeat of the confederacy and the shenandoah was a turning point that led to the preservation of our union and the beginning of the end of our nations bloodiest conflict and whereas 150 years later, virginia recognizes the significance of the battle of cedar creek and the outcome of the American Civil War, now therefore, i, terence mcauliffe, do hereby recognize october 19, 2014, as the 150th anniversary of the battle of cedar creek in our commonwealth of virginia and i call this observance to the attention of all of our citizens. [applause] thank you. Tonight, it is my distinct honor to introduce our keynote speaker. I have a long list of accolades and distinctions to read about jonathan noyales, but the first one i want to share is that he is a passionate scholar on the battle of cedar creek. He is a supporter of this park and an active participant and an active participant in sharing the history of this place. Jonathan is an assistant professor of history and the director of the center of Civil War History at Lord Fairfax Community college in middletown. He is the author or editor of a biography of Robert H Milroy and the book of the battle of cedar creek. Jonathan is active in battlefield preservation in the Shenandoah Valley and serves on the board of directors for the battlefield association. It is my honor to introduce jonathan noyales. [applause] thank you, amy, and superintendent northup. As a College Professor who has spent the past decade of my career researching and writing about commemoration here in the Shenandoah Valley, i feel a great sense of honor and humility to stand here this evening as part of a chain of commemorations that go back to the 1880s on this landscape. When veterans from the 128th new york infantry gathered on the Cedar Creek Battlefield in 1907 to dedicate their regimental monument, a monument not too far from us here, a veteran from the regiment observed, i do not believe there is a spot on this continent where more for the interest of our nation was concentrated than here at cedar creek. While some individuals might seem inclined to think that this veteran exaggerated cedar creeks place in history, one could argue that because of what was at stake for the Union War Effort in the autumn of 1864, cedar creek if but for a moment became one of the most significant places on the north american continent. Among all the battles fought in the Shenandoah Valley, nine nine achieved more significant results and had wider success than cedar creek. It finally and permanently wrested the Shenandoah Valley from confederate control. Union victory here meant that valley harvests, what was left of them after the destruction of the burning, would not be available to feed Confederate Forces operating in the old dominion. Union victory here 150 autumns ago, solidified philip sheridans emerging reputation while simultaneously helping president Abraham Lincoln secure his bid for reelection in november. The Union Success at cedar creek also proved a turning point in the civil war. As with the Shenandoah Valley secured, the region could no longer used as a diversionary theater of war for Confederate Forces. The Union Success at cedar creek meant freedom for the regions slaves a freedom that proved , uncertain due to the backandforth nature of the civil war in the Shenandoah Valley, now stood on firmer ground. Although, africanamericans would still confront obstacles in the ensuing decades to realize the promise of president Abraham Lincolns emancipation proclamation. Beyond the mountains which define the Shenandoah Valley, news of cedar creek brought hope to those in the north for ultimate Union Success or the sobering reality to individuals in the south that the confederate experiment would ultimately end in defeat. In one of his many chronicles of the American Civil War, pulitzer prizewinning historian bruce catton imagined a scene which took place on the grounds where we stand in front of the majestic house which looms behind me. Bruce catton described a scene where general sheridan after the battle of cedar creek was over, was leaning against a captured confederate cannon parked in front of belle grove. Peering into the distance at the flickering campfires of the army of the shenandoah. And catton so eloquently captured from sheridans viewpoint what victory meant to the Union War Effort. Catton wrote, the sun had gone down, the fight was over, and earlys army was wrecked for keeps. The war in the Shenandoah Valley had been one without the valley. Lees army cannot hope to hold richmond much longer. It was an omen of the final set sun set of the confederacy. While this battle with a surprise earlymorning assault of an inferior army, the arrival of sheridan astride his horse, renamed winchester after the battle, an event immortalized by poetry and art after the battle. The rallying of union forces and an afternoon counter attack drove the confederate south. Cedar creek indeed proved to be a significant turning point in the conflict, an omen of the final sunset for the confederacy. The landscape upon which this battle occurred, a landscape which witnessed 8824 men become casualties, reminds us of the very tragic nature of the American Civil War. Sometimes as we stand upon the battlefield such as this one,one one that is usually cloaked in a quietness broken only by the sounds of nature, we forget how bloody our american iliad was, a conflict that claimed the lives of three quarters of a million americans. Many of the men who sacrifice in this field had their whole lives in front of them. Lives interrupted and sadly ended during that conflict. As a College Professor, who teaches students who are the same age as many of those slain on this hollowed ground, i pause to wonder about the might have been. What might have become of the Young Division commander general Stephen Dodson 27 years old at the time of the battle, 27 years old at the time he breathed his final breath. One also wonders what might have become of the harvard educated Union ColonelCharles Russell whose name is emblazoned in harbors memorial hall. Mortally wounded, like his confederate counterpart during the battles afternoon phase. Three years after the civil war ended, the short biography of lowell is published along with 95 others in the harvard memorial biographies, a series edited by a union veteran. After its publication, the colonels widow sent a copy to a wellknown scottish intellectual thomas carlyle, a man long admired by her late husband. After carlisle received and read the essay on the colonels life he penned a note to his widow which captured the tragedy of our civil war, a tragedy was we must never forget. Carlisle penned, it would need a heart much harder than my not to recognize the high and noble spirit that dwelt in these young men, their readiness, devotedness, patience, diligence and virtue in the cause that they sought to be the highest. Alas any difference i may feel, it only deepens me to the sorrowful tragedy that each of the brief lives is. While this battlefield can be viewed as a place where a turning point in a conflict occurred, or as a tragic landscape where men with potential had their lives cut short, it is also a place that reinforces Robert E Lees axiom that it is history that teaches us to hope. Those men who fought it cedar creek in october, 1864, and survived could have never fathomed that just 19 years after the battle men who had once shot at each other would come back as part of a united country. An unbreakable nation welded together with blood and fire to remember, contemplate, and commemorate. When the members of the sheridans Veterans Association made their excursion to the Shenandoah Valley in september, 1883, the 19th anniversary of sheridans 1864 shenandoah campaign, they visited all of the battlefields of that campaign, including this one. Entertained by the owners of belle grove, the veterans visited their old battlelines, delivered remarks of commemoration and walked sidebyside with confederate veterans. Veterans who served in earlys army and veterans who called the Shenandoah Valley home. When the sheridans Veterans Association returned two years later, this time to dedicate a monument to the heroic exploits of the eighth for mont infantry, a spirit of True National healing prevailed. A spirit that did not require the veterans to forget their past, but not let the past create a stagnant present nor paralysis for the future among former foes. While that block of vermont marble was intended to commemorate the heroic exploits of the eighth vermont on the morning of october 19, a morning where the regiment lost three quarters of its men in a span of 30 minutes, it also stood as a testament to the bravery and courage and shared experience of sacrifice of its citizen soldiers. Whether they donned the blue or the grey. One vermonter noted during the dedication of the symbolic importance of this monument as a tangible testament to national healing. This monument will serve as a pillar stone which shall forever mark an era of genuine fraternal feeling between us. Let it be an everlasting covenant that we will not pass over the stone to thee. Thou shall not pass over this pillar to us for harm. Let loyalty and fraternity everywhere prevail, all the social and moral virtues have a high rating with us and the people. Then there will be ground for the hope that the future of our beloved country may be worthy of its glorious past. As we commemorate the battle of cedar creek this evening, and contemplate its many meanings, it is important to remember that this battlefield can teach us and generations that we know not not only about the civil wars most significant battle in the Shenandoah Valley, but it can instruct us on such thing as heroism, devotion to duty, the general tragedy of war, memory and forgiveness. The men who fought here, bled here, died here, and those who survived and returned after our american iliad have earned the right along with this battlefield to remembered to be remembered not only once every quarter of a century but every year. It is fitting this evening to close my remarks with the words of a veteran of the second ohio cavalry. Who fought here at cedar creek 150 years ago. For the occasion of the grand army of the republic reunion in cleveland, ohio, 37 years after this battle, he penned a poem simply entitled cedar creek. His words which cut across time offer a reminder as to why we must always continue to commemorate, preserve, and learn from this battlefield landscape. And he wrote in part, confronting each other like tigers at bay two warbattered armies lay across the Shenandoah Valley that october day these veterans were all that word can imply. As brave as the biggest of men, when they duty demanded, they dare not die they had done it again and again the flower of this nation met there that day in that army in blue, and army in gray and took their position of every advantage each sought to make most and reeled into their places full soon as evening closed in around each battle scarred host andrew down down its shades with a the semblance of a ghost. The battle was waged with a valor that no mortal can tell in handtohand struggle, they fiercely engaged the passing the theory of lines and caged and charts back and forth in their unbridled rage while brave men like autumn leaves fell cheers and tears for each hero found their a grave. Rust may destroy stored and un, but here in conclusion, permit me to say that whoever took part in that battle that day wearing the blue or gray will never forget cedar creek but the world we regret grows poor when such brave men die. Thank you. [applause] thank you, jonathan. As we have heard, it is a sacred place we remember. We remember the war weary soldiers who kept fighting to ensure their beliefs were protected. We remember the soldiers who fell here at our feet. Who took their last breath in this field, who looked upon this landscape as their last site. We remember their families who were back in vermont or iowa or georgia, who were waiting for news for their safety, news that never came. We are here to remember our ancestors and descendents, our own who sacrificed everything so that we may continue to live in a country today where all are free, where all can stand up and express themselves and all can stand together as one. We have many people in the audience tonight who have personal connections to cedar creek. Many descendents of union and confederate soldiers have come here to follow in their ancestors footsteps, to see the landscapes they saw and to understand the importance of what happened. I would like to ask any descendents of cedar creek soldiers to stand at this time. [applause] thank you for being here. It has been a tradition at belle grove to present a wreath on the anniversary every year to honor the soldiers, families, and communities who were impacted by the battle of cedar creek. We are going to continue that tradition this evening. In just a moment, the commanders of this years reenactment will come forward and present a memorial wreath. After Major General jake jenette and the Brigadier General make the presentations, i will ask for a moment of silence to remember and honor the sacrifices and reconciliation that has happened here on this battlefield. Many are the hearts that are weary tonight wishing for the one who sees many are the hearts looking for the right to see the dawn of peace tenting tonight tenting tonight tenting on the old campground our weary hearts are told of old and friends we loved so dear many are the hearts that are weary through night wishing for the one who sees many are the hearts looking for the right to see the dawn of peace tenting tonight tenting tonight on the old campground weve been tenting tonight on the old campground of the loved ones that gave us a hand and the that said good bye we are weary of war on the old campground many are dead and gone many are the hearts that are weary tonight wishing for the one who sees many are the hearts looking for the right to see the dawn of peace tenting tonight tenting tonight tenting on the old campground [applause] present arms forward march thank you. Our commitment to this place is evident in the activities this weekend and your presence this evening. The power and the number of people here is directly related to our power and ability to keep the memory alive and to keep this special place preserved. It has taken countless people through the decades to ensure that this place is here for perpetuity. Private citizens, local committee groups, nonprofit organizations, and Government Entities have worked together to create cedar creek and Belle Grove National Historical park. And to keep the preservation work going. It is an ongoing effort needs that needs all of us to support the cause and support the legacy of this place. One organization who is taking the lead and honoring the history is the heritage area known as journey to Hallowed Ground. Their preservation efforts span from charlottesville to gettysburg, as they work with local communities to preserve this land and the history. In commemoration of the sesquicentennial of the civil war, they have taken on a project you will hear about shortly. It is my pleasure to introduce a member of the National Advisory council for journey through Hallowed Grounds and most known for his most known civil war films of gettysburg, gods and generals, and copperhead. It is my pleasure to introduce ron maxwell. [applause] hi. Wow. Are your teeth chattering yet . I do not know how yall could sing so beautifully in this cold . If it keeps getting cold, it will remind me of a few nights when we were filming the battle of fredericksburg. We filmed that on december 13, exactly the night it was theres a confederate nodding. You were with us. That was one couple of cold nights when we filmed those night scenes. I was to ground onto that organization within months of one i moved here. I live right over here in rappahannock county. I enjoy living here. Ok. So, whats the journey through Hallowed Ground up to . As we all know, during the civil war, 620,000 soldiers were killed. These men represented union, confederate, and u. S. Colored troops. These men were fathers, sons, husbands and brothers. They died on battlefields, hilltops and streams and roadside, in homes, hospitals, and prisons. According to the chief historian of the National Park, robert sutton, of the 620,000 soldiers who died, approximately 50 are unknown to us. These men each had stories to tell and dreams they wished to fulfill. And yet buy our research, most have been forgotten. It has been said that the American Civil War was largely fought over words, words ascribed to Thomas Jefferson and patrick henry. From jefferson all men are created equal. From henry, give me liberty or give me death. Today, as you turn out of jeffersons property at monticello youll travel 180 miles north along the journey through Hallowed GroundNational Scenic byways to gettysburg, pennsylvania. Along the way, you pass the largest concentration of Civil War Battlefields in the country, including the beginning of the war, harpers valley in manassas and the end of the war wilderness. It was upon these battlefields that most of the 620,000 men who died and fought. The journey through Hallowed Ground is commemorating the centennial of the civil war. Second it is a simple and eloquent plant to plant one tree for each of the 620,000 soldiers who died as a living room moral for the individual and combined sacrifices. Thats right. You heard it correctly. Trees. This is such a great idea. I wish i thought of it myself. These trees will create an 180 mile alley from monticello to gettysburg along the journey through Hallowed GroundNational Scenic byways that reminds visitors they are on Hallowed Ground. To date, trees have been planted to honor 1,463 fallen men. And in the next 30 days, we will be planning another 1900 trees along the frontage of former president James Monroes home. Some of these trees will be honoring soldiers who fought and died at cedar creek. More, the journey through Hallowed Ground is geotagging each tree to allow visitors to learn the name and the story of each young man for whom the tree is planted by allowing photos and diary entries and letters home to be shared. You can imagine if you have your iphone or your ipad with you, you will be able to instantly learn about this particular soldier. We believe this is the time to create and implement a living legacy for those who gave the last full measure during our countrys most trying time. This project further lends itself to a National Service learning program as we work with students from around the country to research the fallen from their own communities. To learn their stories and to dedicate trees in their honor. Within this past year, students from vermont, massachusetts, pennsylvania, and virginia have researched the stories of their own ancestors and helped us plant trees in honor of these men from their communities who perished. Recently, we announced a partnership with ancestry. Com and the History Channel who are supporting our efforts to engage teachers and School Children from around the country to learn who from their Community Fought and died and after researching their stories, these children are actually coming to dedicate the trees. To date, partners include the National Park service, the Virginia Department of transportation, the Civil War Trust, corporations including warner bros. , my alma mater, and the Prince Charitable trust and so many others, too many to mention here. You, too, can get involved by donating 100 to plant a tree. By doing so, you may select the soldier you wish to honor and may also make the donation is a others or toto honor the life of an unknown soldier. We thank you for your many efforts to give voice to the known and unknown so they can be remembered for generations to come. Trees are the largest living organisms on earth and the organisms with the longest life spans. We americans love our trees and we love our forests. By their presence along this route, we are proclaiming that we will never forget the brave men and women of the civil war, our ancestors. Where there are trees alive all across the United States that were alive at the time of the civil war. We invite you to share stories of your ancestors or consider helping others to do the same by dedicating a tree along our living Legacy National memorial. Help us turn what was a landscape most saturated in blood, the blood of our forebears, into the largest landscaped alley in the world as a tribute to our dear, sacred, and never forgotten fallen. Thank you. [applause] thank you. I would just like to add that the journey through Hallowed Ground is working with historian mike keyhough to identify those names of the fallen at cedar creek. He has done an impressive job at researching the casualty list for the battle of cedar creek. The living legacy tree project is just one example of a variety of preservation efforts happening in our own communities. Here at cedar creek and belle Grove National park, the staff and volunteers are working tirelessly to ensure this place is preserved and available for your experience. As you may already realize, this park is a very unique National Park. Understood as a partnership park, the lands and operation of this area are owned and operated not only by the National Park service but by key partners who maintain facilities, run operations, provide visitor services, and access to preserve preserved lands. This park is comanaged with the National Park service, belle grove incorporated, the Cedar Creek Battlefield foundation, the Shenandoah ValleyBattlefields Foundation, shenandoah county, and the National Trust for historic preservation. Vital organizations like the Civil War Trust and all of our surrounding communities round out our partnership efforts. I would like to take a moment to recognize these amazing stewards of this park. I would like to ask all Staff Members of the National Park service and all of our Park Partners to please stand and be recognized. [applause] these partners have been doing amazing work these last few years. At a Media Conference earlier this week, we were able to announce the acquisition and preservation of an additional 186 acres of battlefield land. The Civil War Trust recently acquired close to seven acres of land near the mount caramel cemetery in middletown that witnessed Battle Action in the morning surprise attack any and the afternoon counterattack. The Shenandoah ValleyBattlefields Foundation also announced the preservation of 179 acres at the island farm property near strasburg through a conservation easement that will forever protect the view shed related to the morning attack. These new preservation efforts just this year brings the number of preserved acres related to the battle of cedar creek to close to 1700 acres. This is an impressive feat that has happen because of our collective partnership efforts. We are a fairly young park. Since being established in 2002, this park has worked hard to increase visitor services, programming, community outreach, and visitor materials to share with you. The partnership collective has been working together to find new ways to not only preserve itional battlefield lands [coughs] excuse me. Excuse me. So, we have been working together to preserve additional, not only additional battlefield lands, but to increase visitor access through trails, wayside exhibits, programs, and other offerings. [coughs] i encourage you to continue checking in with cedar creek and belle grove and see how we will continue to grow as a park. But all of this cannot be done without the support of our local citizens and communities. All of our organizations are supported by a strong and passionate group of volunteers. Our volunteers help with everything from providing house tours at belle grove to operating the visitor contact station in middletown to running the civil war park and museum, and the Cedar Creek BattlefieldFoundation Headquarters office. These volunteers are honoring this every day through their commitment to this place. Without them, this anniversary weekend would not have been possible. I would like to ask all of the volunteers involved at this park to please stand to be recognized. [applause] thank you. Its the community that has created this park, and it is the community that has created these partnerships to ensure that the land is taken care of. I would now like to introduce patrick ferris, the executive director of the war and Heritage Society and front royal to say a few words about these partnerships. [applause] thank you, amy. Ill say a word about these partnerships beginning with this reminiscence. When i was in my 20s and felt like i could go anywhere in the world, i came to virginia. And i went everywhere that i could in virginia. And i remember being at the birthplace of booker t. Washington, a very small unit of the National Park service, and i can remember to this day over quarter a century ago, i can remember the stories i learned there about the people who lived at that place and about booker t. Washington himself. I can remember after all these years because it is the stories that stay with us when we visit a place. It is often the story or the stories of a place that draw us to that location in the first place. And where we are seated in standing today is a myriad of those stories. Im looking into the distance at that silent sentinel, the mess massanutten. We are standing in frederick in between those three counties, the towns of strasburg in middletown, all of these places rended by the civil war, torn apart for years only to have to bear witness to the battle cedar creek itself. The many men who fought, sacrificed their lives, their health, their freedom, access to their families, their futures on these fields. Those stories are the stories that draw so many of us here, not just today on the 150th anniversary weekend of the battle cedar creek, but that have drawn us here before and will continue to draw us in the future and our children and our childrens children. The partnership that makes up this park is composed of foundations, Historic Sites, political units like those counties and towns. And it is the stories that they have maintained over the years that have allowed us to create a National Park in this place. And it is because that National Park exists now that i feel comfortable and safe as i am sure you do that those stories will continue to be protected, will continue to encourage people to come here and learn not just about those people then but about themselves. It is those stories that make this place. And it is the partners that have put together this park with those stories that make it such a poignant reminder of the entirety of that civil war. Thank you very much for being here today. And i thank you even more for coming back. [applause] all of us here at the park and with our organizations are working here to continue the legacy. Our goals are simple. To be good caretakers of this land, share the history with our visitors, and pass these places onto the next generation so that they may take up the torch of preservation. Our youth play a vital role in the legacy of his history. It is up to them to keep the effort going. It is up to us to instill a passion and urgency in them to ensure they stay involved. With this in mind, we have worked with the military academy in woodstock to encourage troops think about the civil war from their perspective. We asked the students to reflect on why youth should care about this place in history. Working with their teacher, michelle harper, we have two cadets with us tonight who will present their thoughts on the subject. The first cadet who will be speaking is a junior from egypt. She will be sharing an essay written by her fellow cadet, a senior from florida. Speaker is a junior from gainesville, virginia. Please welcome them. [applause] today we gather to remember the battle that was fought 150 years ago, but why does the civil war matter twice today . As mark twain once said, history does not repeat itself. But it does rhyme. If we forget the past, we may repeat it. That is one of the many reasons why this war is important. The biggest outcome of the civil war was the abolition of slavery. Our multiethnic cultures are an expression of how we have changed. We are more tolerant, more integrated, and more varied in our demographics and culture. In fact, in 1913, the anniversary of gettysburg, africanamerican veterans were today, we embrace and celebrate our differences. Furthermore, no other conflict has so profoundly changed our society. The political and social impacts were immense and shaped america. For example, the 13th amendment, slavery was banned. 14th amendment, citizenship for all born in the United States. 15th amendment, Voting Rights for all citizens regardless of race. The 1862 homestead act was passed. Womens rights gained momentums and jim crows laws were passed. The civil war also set the stage for modern medicine, providing thousands of physicians with a vast training ground. What we take for granted, these include modern hospitals, organized ambulances, safer surgical techniques and improved anesthesia. The warriors also brought the technological advance. Mass production of canned food, and battlefield photography. The Transcontinental Railroad and 15,000 miles of telegraph lines which reached the west coast. Wartime also helped to devise part of our daily lives. Such things include paper currency, home delivered mail, premade clothing, shoes being shaped differently from our left and right foot, and can openers. Today, we take all of these for granted because we had them growing up. However, one of the most important impacts of the war has included our veterans. The civil war left us to care for an honor those who fought and establish the First National , cemeteries. There were homes that later became the Veterans Administration and social care for veterans and orphans. The pride we have for our ancestors. That in itself is one lesson we should never forget. Why does the civil war matter . Not only that it changed lives but the war has made our country split into two sides. In the end, it defined us as a nation. It was a crossroads of who we are and who we became to be. Robert penn warren called the war the american oracle. Meaning it told us who we are. And by corollary, reflects the changing nature of america. There is no better historical register than the memory of the civil war and how it morphed our nation over time. As shelby foote once said, before the war, representatives were referred to as these United States, but after we became theUnited States. Finally let us never forget how , Abraham Lincoln noted so eloquently in his famous address on november 19, 1863, that the battle consecrated the unfinished work to guarantee this nation under god shall have a new birth of freedom and that the government of the people, by the people, and for the people shall not perish on the earth. Thank you. [applause] i wanted to start by saying thank you for inviting us and letting us come to this historical site. As youth, we do not normally show our appreciation and generosity like we should for what soldiers during this time had to sacrifice for what we are privileged with today. We do not realize how much of a change there was basically in history. This started off with technical advancements such as the continental road, which led now to the metro. It led us to a whole demographic variety and definitely diversity within this area, within the United States of america. Those who do not learn from the past are bound to repeat themselves, which means that we learn from our mistakes and those mistakes that those soldiers had made to sacrifice. We should honor them and thank you. The union of our nation brought us together for the civil war. And we thank you for all you have done for us. I would also like to say that, even though we do not normally go through each day by day wondering what it was like and how we should thank each individual people there, we should recognize the fact how the people in the past made what we have today. And we ought to say thank you. On behalf of the military academy and the youth for today. [applause] before we close for the evening, i want to take a moment to recognize our wonderful choir. Winchester music has joined us and will close the program. This Chamber Choir is based out of winchester and has been a wonderful addition to the program tonight. Their next concert is scheduled for next weekend, october 25, 26, at the Grace Lutheran Church in winchester. You can get more about the information information about them at the table in the back. A big thank you to winchester musical aviva. [applause] i would also like to offer a thank you to Belle Grove Plantation for hosting us and providing a wonderful setting for this commemoration. Thank you. [applause] after the ceremony, the city of middletown will be hosting a luminary event down main street. The town is placing 964 luminaries down both sides of main street, one luminary for every soldier who died at cedar creek. Shops, restaurants, and Historic Sites will also be open later this evening for you to explore. As we close this evening, i would like to encourage you to continue exploring the special place. As you think about the soldiers who fought here, i encourage you to walk in the footsteps, take a moment and visited the monuments theirthey defended colleagues when hundred 50 years ago tomorrow. Take a moment to explore the beautiful belle grove manor house, where a family took shelter against the raging war around them. Talk to a reenactor and learn about the regiments they are interpreting. Travel the path of the battle as it unfolded 150 years ago on a ranger realtime program. Immerse yourself in this history. You are sitting on Hallowed Ground. These memories. It is this ground that has witnessed so much. It is up to us to pick up the torch from our ancestors and to champion the continued preservation of this sacred space. I would like us, as we are enjoying the sunset in this place, to take a moment and continue to reflect. Our reenactment community would like to provide a salute and we will begin the last piece. Thank you. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the lord; he is trampling out the vintage where the grapes of wrath are stored he hath loosed the fateful lightning of his terrible swift sword his truth is marching on glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah his truth is marching on i have seen him in the watchfires of a hundred circling camps they have builded him an altar in the evening dews and damps i can read his righteous sentence by the dim and flaring lamps his day is marching on glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah his truth is marching on in the beauty of the lilies christ was born across the sea with a glory in his bosom that transfigures you and me as he died to make men holy, let us die to make men free while god is marching on glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah his truth is marching on glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah glory, glory, hallelujah his truth is marching on amen amen [applause] [captions Copyright National cable satellite corp. 2014] [captioning performed by the national captioning institute, which is responsible for its caption content and accuracy. Visit ncicap. Org] the civil war eras here every saturday at 6 p. M. And 10 p. M. Youre watching American History tv. All weekend, every weekend on cspan 3. Now we continue our look at the 1864 president ial election between Abraham Lincoln and george mcclellan. The summer of 1864 was marked by heavy Union Casualties and dwindling support for lincolns goal of emancipation. Many believe that lincoln would fail to win reelection. University of kansas professor Jennifer Weber examines the Political Climate in the summer of 1864 and explains how lincoln won by a landslide. This is a portion of a symposium hosted by the Lincoln Group of d. C. It is 50 minutes. I am pleased to be here this morning and am honored to introduce our next speaker, Jennifer Weber. Jennifer is an associate professor of history at the university of kansas. Where her specialty, no surprise, is the civil war. Her first book was copperheads for those of you who may not have a copy at home or have read it. And this, of course, is about the Antiwar Movement in the north. This was published by Oxford University press in 2006, and actually has a forward by jennifers mentor, james m. Macpherson. So you can tell she comes from a quality line. Her second book is actually geared for children, and this fact has won her a special place in the hearts of many of us in the Lincoln Group who really view the importance of sharing the story of lincoln and his heir, and our nations history with our youngest americans. That story tells the battle of gettysburg and is called summers bloodiest days. Jennifer actually right now is working on a book about conscription in the civil war area and the impact of conscription on the civil war north. She has also coedited an anthology that honors her mentor, professor macpherson