Thaddeus Stevens Burial Site

A large, generally out of place monument stands in the middle of a small remote cemetery in West Lancaster PA. The neighborhood surrounding it is mixed and the cemetery itself is poorly maintained. Here, a relatively forgotten giant in American history rests. Thaddeus Stevens was an unmistakable force in his time - a political abolitionist who push Lincoln to move on emancipation, was a conceptual author of the 14th amendment, and was singularly responsible for exposing the hypocrisy of President Andrew Johnson. He chose to manage the end of his life as he had most of his living years - guided by principle. He chose to be buried in the only cemetery in the area that supported his convictions. In death, he remains a guiding light for equality. (see Stevens Burial Site page in this blog)

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Indian Gap National Cemetery

I recently visited the Indian Gap National Cemetery near Harrisburg PA. I was quite struck by the architecture of central memorial in the cemetery, designed to look like bombed out buildings. While delighted that this location is dedicated to honor military veterans who served our country, I was quite taken back by the design choice for this momument. Why this choice? What statement is this architectural choice trying to make? Why focus of destroyed buildings when the focal point should be on broken lives given to maintain or restore freedom for others. Why focus on structural damage that was collateal to the efforts of those honored in this hallowed place? If the destruction of a building is the price for defeating a despot or an invader,the focus of memorializing should be on the valient effort of those verterens, not the collateral damage of their efforts. See the pictures on the Indian Gap page.


I'd be interested in the thoughts of others.