Making students aware of our lost history. By Robert Clayborn, St. Mark Middle, Indianapolis, IN

Preservation made personal using art, photography, and technology.

1. White text is to be narrated by the teacher.

2. Choose a student to read the Gettysburg Address as it comes up. Pick a strong reader.

3. Stop and let the class discuss these topics.

Begin with slide #3

Forever Gone

America’s Lost Heritage

Although the history of our country is short compared to many other nations, we have faced great trials and tribulations. Through each challenge we have encountered, our nation never faltered. We have overcome all obstacles set before us, some better than others. Nonetheless, we always came back stronger than before.

What are some of the challenges we have faced as a nation?

“Four score and seven years ago, our fathers brought forth on this continent a new nation: conceived in liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.”

In 1861, America found itself facing a confrontation that would cause it to be divided like never before. For four long years the world watched to see if we would ever be reunited.

“Now we are engaged in a great civil war. . .testing whether that nation, or any nation so conceived and so dedicated. . . can long endure. We are met on a great battlefield of that war.”

What are some of the things you are willing to stand up for?

Throughout history men and women have taken a stand and fought to protect what they believed to be right.

To defend if you had to?

The print ”Twilight of an Army” by Rick Reeves shows men preparing to follow their general.

Imagine the courage these men must have had.

“We have come to dedicate a portion of that field as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.”

What do you think was going through the minds of these men as they faced their own mortality?

“But, in a larger sense, we cannot dedicate... we cannot consecrate... we cannot hallow this ground.”

As shown in this print by Don Troiani, each man will give his all. He will not let his brothers in arms down. His honor will never be tarnished because he lacks courage.

“The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract.”

As this print by Dale Gallon suggests, it is never easy to stand by your convictions. We must all remember that everyone here was an American.

Our country had never before seen the conflicts that this war was to cause for us. Families were torn apart. Before hostilities ended, over 600,000 Americans had died.

“The world will little note, nor long remember, what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here.”

Thousands of Americans who survived this conflict were, for as long as they lived, touched by this war. Many were disabled or suffered from ill health. Many died shortly after hostilities ended and were not counted in the 600,000. Yet shouldn’t they be?

Others lost everything they had:

their homes;their families;

their livelihoods;

all hopes and

dreams they may have had for a future.

The day after the battle shows that many will never see their homes again. Mothers and fathers will weep. A child will never see a father again. A wife has lost someone whom she had held so dear.

Could your great-great-grandfather, uncle, or a distant family member be one of the men who perished on this field of battle?

So many of America’s young men would never see a new generation. We shall never know the promise we lost this day.

“It is for us the living, rather, to be here dedicated to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced.”

America, even after this conflict, has prevailed. Our nation is a strong nation. We will stand together, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Is the history of America something that should be preserved for future generations? Why or why not?

What do you think should be done to make sure the sacrifices of these men are never forgotten?

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us. . .”

Look closely at this print by Mort Kunstler. Note the buildings in the backround. The large one on the right was a cotton gin. The small one on the left was Mr. Carter’s house.

Let’s compare this battlefield then and now. Will it be the way you think it should be?What do you think this area should look like today?

The blue house is where the large cotton gin was. At the time of the battle, most of this area was farmland.

This is what it looked like recently.

If you look hard enough you can still see the other building. Look just below the sign that is almost centered. See the red roof? That is the Carter house. All of the prints you have seen are artists’ renditions of the area in November of 1864.

See it now?

If you visited Franklin, you might never know that so many men had died here. Little is left but an occasional sign for you to read.

If you walk down the street you would have a better view of the Carter house.

This print by Don Troiani of “Opdycke’s Tigers,” gives us a good idea how it looked that November day. All of the prints you have seen represent one specific battle.

In 2005, after a great deal of effort and money, a small park was established.

In this view from the other side of the road you can see more of the lost battlefield.

Without the labors of those who care, our history would be reduced to a few signs

along the road.

Does not the lifeblood of our ancestors make these places hallowed ground?

Throughout the United States hundreds of battlefields have been lost and forgotten. Many will never be recovered. Shouldn’t we save what few remain?

Do we not owe the next generation a glimpse into their past?

Webster’s Dictionary defines hallowed ground:Revered: to show devoted deferential honor;to regard as worthy of great honor.

Don’t our ancestors deserve more respect than this?

“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion. . . that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain. . . that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom. . . and that this government of the people. . .by the people. . .for the people. . . shall not perish from the earth.”

Abraham Lincoln

What have you done to protect our heritage?