James,
We are truly individuals, you and I and all the rest that post here. I feel like I know you all, though I wouldn't recognize you on the street. I have really learned a LOT on this board posting back and forth as we do. I guess we all got a lesson on message board manners when Jim shut down that recent thread. I didn't see the racism that he must have seen. And maybe he squashed posts before we ever read them. Then again we all live in different areas and conditions. I sincerely hope I have never ruffled any feathers on this board any more than they needed to be ruffled. I apologize to Jim, who allows us this forum, if I ever have stepped over the line. Much like your post James that was from the heart and totally off the topic.(whatever that was, hehehe) Mine is intended as an olive branch and I hope it is well received. I wish everyone that posts here the best. I hope T.R. will keep posting here. This is intelligent exchange of information and thoughts as well as emotion. It's a good thing.

Hey...here's a cool thing. On 3 July at 2 p.m. (approximately the same time as on that fatefull day in Gettysburg 145 years ago) my gun crew and I will be honored by participating in a special ceremony at Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond. On that day The Pickett Society will dedicate a granite bench to be placed beside General Pickett's monument on "Gettysburg Hill" at Hollywood. The contributor of the bench is non other than Stephen Lang. Stephen being the actor who portrayed Pickett in the film "Gettysburg" and Jackson in "Gods and Generals". We will also be honored with the presence of Ron Maxwell the director in both movies. Stephen presents this gift to Hollywood Cemetery and the men of Pickett's command in honor of Michael Shaara, the author of "The Killer Angels", the book that started the trilogy of modern day Civil War films. The final work, "The Last Full Measure" is in progress as we speak. Whether you liked or didn't like the two films, you must admire men like Maxwell and Lang that contributed to such projects. I think these two films made many people aware of "the war" that may have never come to know or even begin to understand it. Anyway..........enough of my rambling. If you hear a little rumble of thunder on Thursday afternoon on July the third it may just be The Third Richmond Howitzers paying tribute to those brave men in grey that reast on Gettysburg Hill at Hollywood Cemetery.

Keith