Summertime GIS

July brought what’s become a bit of a tradition: GIS conferences in California and a chance to see my family. The first was up in Pacific Grove, my parent’s old stomping grounds. I arrived early and used the extra time to visit some family graves and walk along the coast, something I would do in my spare time the rest of the weekend. The company was great, but the scenery was spectacular!

The second was in San Diego, and proved how much of a nerd I am because I opted to spend every possible moment inside the convention center when I could’ve frolicked outside. Never fear, I did take the ferry to Coronado one night with my coworkers for some tasty Mexican food. My friend, Kate, was kind enough to let me stay with her and it was great catching up. An unexpected treat: meeting the LDS church’s GIS team and learning how they’re using this technology for Family History and everyday ward use (email me for details, but let’s just stay I got really excited by the possibilities).

Gettysburg

My cousin, Gregory, came to visit shortly after his high school graduation and around the 4th of July. He’d visited the previous year so we were able to venture further afield, and with his love of military history a battle re-enactment seemed perfect. The concept of battle re-enactments always fascinated me. I mean, who knowingly volunteers to be on the losing side? Do they ever get carried away and try to change history? We drove up to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania to find out. First order of business: enlist him in the Union forces. The battle itself wouldn’t be until later in the day, giving us time to wander around and attend presentations on Civil War medicine (the REAL killer) and other aspects of life at that time. It truly gave me a new respect for the suffering and sacrifice of the War.

For many, re-enacting was clearly about camping out with your buddies and dressing up (especially for the women). The level of authenticity varied greatly, as some opted for the convenience of the food booths and their cell phones, wearing gowns so fine they’d normally be reserved for a ball rather than an open field. At last, it was time for the main event: the Battle of the Brickyard. It was then that the geography nerd in me got a little frustrated, because this wasn’t actually held on the site of the battle. The National Park Service forbids re-enactment s on their land, so this was held on an open field just outside the town. Fine and dandy for Pickett’s Charge, but from the description of the Brickyards this field simply wouldn’t do. Nevertheless, it was interesting to see the troop movements and cannon fire, and I was glad I went.

We celebrated the 4th itself by going to see the fireworks on the Mall by biking to the Lincoln Memorial, my favorite place to watch them and my favorite way to get there.

Author’s note: there are some state- and privately-owned battlefields that allow re-enactments. I went with friends to the Battle of Cedar Creek, and truly appreciated seeing the impact of the hilltop and creek on the troop movements and outcome. It didn’t hurt that my friend’s boyfriend, Tom, had been a re-enacter growing up and gave us an expert’s guide to the event.