GDG- Water Park proposed for Gettysburg

Thu Nov 1 16:47:13 CDT 2007

Jim,

Are you related by birth or marriage which is a roundabout way of asking if you are also related to one of the most extraordinary women of her generation, Emily Warren Roebling?

Regards,

Margaret

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Jim Lamason" <jlamason at verizon.net> 

> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> 
> No need to fear sharing your thoughts with me. 
> 
> I have done the same with my kids... 
> The interesting thing is that two things have happened. Our son Steve know 
> much now about his "Uncle G.K.W.". And has been on LRT when an ignorant 
> individual ignores the sign and climbs up next to the statue. My boy is 
> 6'4"... And imposing.. And when he tells people to "READ" they turn around 
> and start to say something, look at him, and skulk away.. 
> 
> The other thing is now my wife Beverly.. If she sees some one up there now, 
> she says to them, "You are disrespecting my family by ignoring that 
> sign!"... People take one look at her ,and know immediately she is not one 
> to trifle with. 
> Jim Lamason 
> Middlesex, NJ 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message----- 
> From: gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com [mailto:gettysburg-bounces at arthes.com] 
> On Behalf Of The Mills 
> Sent: Thursday, November 01, 2007 1:36 PM 
> To: GDG 
> Subject: RE: GDG- Water Park proposed for Gettysburg 
> 
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> Jim: 
> 
> If this gets too political, or "on the soap box", please let me know. 
> 
> For me: it starts at home. I have a two-year old daughter who LOVES going 
> to Gettysburg. Her favorite thing is "climbing those big rocks" and the 
> 140th NY monument on LRT. To her: one of her favorite things to do on a 
> nice day is spending a day in Gettysburg climbing the rocks in Devil's Den, 
> walking over to LRT and climbing the "Tall Tower" as she calls that 
> monument, then having a nice picnic on the field. 
> 
> One thing she has never been allowed to do and never will be allowed to do 
> is climb on a monument (OK, except those that have been built with the 
> intention of climbing them, like the 140th NY and the PA Monument) or climb 
> on a cannon. She has wanted to, as has all kids, but she has been told not 
> to, and as odd as it might seem, I try to explain to her why she is not 
> allowed to climb on a monument or cannon. She now says that "that is a 
> monument" and doesn't try to climb on them MOST of the time. 
> 
> But she is learning that monuments and cannon have a special meaning above 
> and beyond. Of course: she asks me why the other kids are allowed to climb 
> all over the cannon and monuments and she isn't. 
> 
> Granted: I think at age 2, she is still a little too young to start 
> explaining the signifance of the battlefield itself, but we are trying to 
> instill in her that the monuments, cannons, etc have a special meaning that 
> prevents her from climbing on them. As she gets older (at least until she 
> is a teenager and WANTS to be around me), I am going to try to instill in 
> her the signifance of what has occured at Gettysburg and why it has a 
> special meaning. 
> 
> Another thing we try to do with her (again, this might sound a little odd to 
> do with a two year old), is expose her to as much as possible. At least 
> once a month (usually twice a month), we try to go someplace that has had a 
> historical significance in our country. Some of them are smaller than 
> others, some of them are fun for her, but some are not. But at least we are 
> trying to get her exposed at a young age so hopefully as she gets older, it 
> can be a part of her life to be pround of her heritage. 
> 
> For instance: we took her last weekend to a place that restores old 
> trolleys and then runs those trolleys on a 1.5 mile line. She gets the fun 
> of riding the trolley, but also exposed to something that she won't see 
> anywhere else. 
> 
> Now I know this would be a long term solution to the problem, but I think if 
> more people took an approach at home to instill some respect for their 
> heritage and history, we wouldn't see as much encroachment on our national 
> shrines. 
> 
> I could be wrong about all of this, and my daughter, when she grows up built 
> a water park on LRT, but I think it at least gives a better chance than not 
> trying. 
> 
> The problem to me with the NPS, Gettysburg Foundation, GMPA as far as 
> education is: they are only good IF people WANT to know about the battle, 
> so you HAVE to go to them for the information, if that makes sense? I think 
> they are great for information if you want the information. The NPS and all 
> those other entities could have the most inclusive set of documentation and 
> most informative and easily accessible forum, but if someone doesn't want 
> that information, it does no good. That is why I think the process needs to 
> start at home to make the child want to love their history. 
> 
> Like I said: I know it is a "soap-box" answer to your question. But that 
> is how I am at least trying to make a difference in my home. I might fail, 
> but I am going to at least try. 
> 
> Thanks 
> Andy 
> 
> ----- Original Message ----- 
> From: Jim Lamason 
> To: 'GDG' 
> Sent: Thu, 1 Nov 2007 12:38:17 -0400 (EDT) 
> Subject: RE: GDG- Water Park proposed for Gettysburg 
> 
> Esteemed GDG Member Contributes: 
> 
> 
> Jay, and Andy, 
> 
> Ok if education is the answer, how do we help the facilitation of education 
> process? 
> 
> There are several groups who come to mind right off the bat. 
> NPS 
> Gettysburg Foundation (And Friends) 
> GMPA 
> 
> There are at least 3 websites that I know about or more. 
> 
> My thinking, understanding, whatever is there is no sense of urgency about 
> this.. Look I also understand that we are all time strapped. We all have 
> lives. But I wonder if there is a way to bring this all together, so its 
> concentrated. 
> 
> One more thing. Gettysburg is just ONE of the historical sites that is 
> facing incredible pressure. As noted below, I live in New Jersey. Outside of 
> 3 major area of historical impact there is only spots of historical sites 
> left. Where I live in NJ I am in the MIDDLE of our First Revolution. The 
> War for Independence. I can in a 20 minute walk from my house, to at least 4 
> sites that have been either obliterated or are marked by only a story board 
> or two. 
> 
> My fear is that Gettysburg along with several of the other sites will become 
> just like here in NJ. And if we don't make a concentrated effort to save 
> Gettysburg, all we are going to have is the wonderful park surrounded by 
> McMansions, Water Parks and Casinos. 
> And that scares the h*ll out of me, to the point I am almost sick. 
> 
> I look forward to your thoughts. 
> 
> Jim Lamason 
> Middlesex, NJ 
> 
> 
> 
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