Late this afternoon I went to the cemetery where my husband is buried for the annual Christmas Luminary Candlelight Service. I had heard good things of this service but had not been to one or had any reason to go. As so many of the Battlefield cemetery sights with the luminaries, it was more than beautiful, more like overwhelming.

Each grave (at least a couple thousand) has a luminary and individual family members or friends are there to hear a message and some music. The minister spoke of spiritual aspects but he also talked of something I never expected but was very proud to hear. (disclaimer alert: this is one of the few private, family owned funeral service business's in the area and the cemetery is huge.) What got my attention and my gratitude was the Minister spoke of Longfellow and his reasons/inspiration for writing I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day. He did not speak of the Civil War in anything but 'it happened' terms. No bias at all. He told of the lighting of the fires to celebrate Pickett's sons birth by the Confederate soldiers and when Grant discovered why they were doing it, he had fires lit in celebration too.

Not one word of who was right or wrong. Just saying that even in difficult times, people can come together at least for a short while to celebrate something good. I so wish our education systems could do the same thing. Just give the facts. Tell the story. Find the good somewhere in both sides instead of all the wrongs on one side. I hope the large number of children there listened well to that story. My cousin's were in the choir but I know they are being taught of their ancestors at home.

Pam