Vicksburg Battle Memorial Park

While we were spending time with our friends in Mississippi, we went to tour the Vicksburg Memorial Battlefield Park. Following are some of the pictures that I took that day.

The inscription on this monument reads:

Here brothers fought for their principles Here heroes died for their country and a united people will forever cherish their legacy of noble manhood


Here I am beside a cannon with the Mississippi River in the background.



The following picture depicts the rolling terrain of the battlefield.










One of the monuments dedicated to soldiers from Illinois



Another Illinois monument


Along the road many markers depicted the location of troops and their movements. Blue for the Union, red for the Confederate Army.








Below is my good friend from our Navy days. He is pictured with his Great-great Uncle who died during the battle. He was quick to point out that he had relative who fought for the other side.








The following monument is dedicated to African Americans who fought for the Union during this battle.






The following monument is dedicated to the men from Rhode Island, my home state.















The USS Cairo - below







The inscription on the above monument reads:

To the Arkansas Confederate soldiers a part of a nation divided by the sword and reunited at the altar of faith.

We all enjoyed the visit and we were limited by constraints of time. We all agreed that we would like to return and perhaps hire a guide so that we would fully appreciate the history of this area.

Mom

I was talking to my mom awhile ago when she asked me when I would be visiting Rhode Island again. I said next summer. She then told me that she would not see me again as she was tired of living. Mom will be 96 in November and she has outlived all her generation of relatives (save one) and friends. My dad died in 1998 and she misses him.

I decided that I would make a quick trip there to see her just in case. She is in good health but you never know. Carol stayed in Florida as her eyes are still a problem and she wanted to be near her doctor. I was not in RI for my 70Th birthday and decided to have all my kids, grand kids and favorite niece and her family together for a belated birthday celebration.

These are my comments about that trip. I left on a Monday morning and covered 802 miles. Too much driving for one day. I hate to lump all New York drivers together but the ones I encountered both ways like to park themselves in the left lane and refuse to move over. In some cases they were not even doing the speed limit. The second day I completed the trip. I only had about 650 miles, but the day was longer due to traffic and accidents through New Jersey, New York and Connecticut.

I spent quality time with my mom, took her out for lunch one day to EATS for our favored wienies, a variation on the hot dog, but much different. I visited the A T Cross Company store and purchased three pens. I am a retiree so I still get the employee discount. I took my sister in law and her husband out for breakfast and good conversation.

On the Saturday we had the cookout and my niece hosted the party. Her husband was the grill master, her daughter made my birthday cake. It was yellow with chocolate frosting that was so light and tasty. She is a very accomplished baker. My niece's home has a beautiful recently redone 16 X 40 in ground pool pictured below. My great niece, nephew and some of my grand kids are pictured enjoying the pool.



I was leaving the next day. Once again mom said I would not see her again. I told her she was a great mom, a good friend and if it was so, I would miss her and think of her every day. I also reminded her that it was up to God, and I was planning on seeing her next summer.

I did not want to do the drive in two days home. I stopped in Virginia and then in Pembroke, Georgia and stayed with a Navy buddy . I am fortunate to have made such great and lasting friends so long ago.

Home away from home

We had planned on wondering about Mississippi and bordering states while our house was being worked on, we ended up spending the entire time with good friends in Mississippi. Their hospitality was on the highest level and we all enjoyed the time. Hugh has done an amazing amount of work on both the grounds and the house. His carpenter skills are at the highest level.

Below is a picture of one of the two ponds on his property. In the evening we could hear the cacophony of the multitude of bull frogs, during the day turtles would be sunning themselves on the exposed logs. Early morning and at dusk, beavers could be seen swimming. They are a nuisance critter as they strip off the bark around the trees eventually killing them.

This is a view of the rear of the house from near the edge of the pond.


Early in the morning we would walk our dogs and we could hear the rooster across the pond greeting the new day. The across the pond neighbors dogs would alert the world that strangers were about. Occasionally we would hear the stallion, picture below, announcing his displeasure at being separated from the mares.


Hugh's wife, Samra managed to prepare many wonderful meals while we were there. We were well rested and well fed. It was a wonderful time with friends who welcomed us as if we were family. Carol and Sam have become fast friends. Hugh and Sam took to our dogs. In fact I told Sam we might have to sue her for alienation of affection. Pillo spend many hours in Sam's lap and she provided Gizmo with his first taste of bacon. No wonder that Gizmo stood by her side every time she was cooking.

We decided that the four of us and the three dogs would take a day trip to Vicksburg before we headed back to Florida. That blog will follow soon.