At the beginning of November, AGS took 26 participants on the annual Gettysburg Staff Ride. Below is a reflection from Junior Lauren Strauch describing her experience on the trip.
I had a great time joining AGS on the staff ride to Gettysburg earlier this month. As a junior studying biomedical engineering, I have not had very much room in my schedule for history classes, so it was a joy to briefly step away from my problem sets and take a deep dive into this significant event. The students, fellows, and staff were very kind and welcoming.
The battle site has been extremely well maintained, with every cannon and fence present because they had been there during the battle. This care to the area made it easier to imagine ourselves back in time, with wounded and dying on the same fields where we stood. It was very powerful to walk up the hill of Little Round Top, picturing soldiers from my home state of Texas who had scaled that slope in vain as the Union shot down on them, keeping a position that was critical for their victory. Later that day, following the path of Pickett’s charge and hiking the mile from the confederate to the union side was also heavy and meaningful.
Overall, the trip gave me a greater appreciation for our country, especially for the military who protects it. It is easy to think back on the battle with hindsight 20/20, but there were some critical, courageous decisions made, whether the bayonet charge on Little Round Top or the Union artillery strategy on Day 3, without which the Confederates may have had a much larger chance of winning. With our guide and the fellows connecting what we learned to modern-day leadership and strategy, I reflected with gratitude on the bravery, resilience, and sacrifices of the people who died so that our country could survive, of those who have done so since, and those who are willing to do so today.
We had heard a lot in the weeks leading up to the election about how divided our country is, so going to Gettysburg and learning about this turning point back towards unity when our country was the most divided ever, while sad, was also a reminder of the perseverance and strength this country and its people have been and continue to be capable of.