Civil War Fireworks

Antietam Battlefield - Sharpsburg, Maryland

Mary and Mark live close to many of the Civil War Battlegrounds. For the last few years Mary has gone with friends to the Antietam Battlefield to watch the fireworks. The year we were able to join her, along with 15,000 to 20,000 others, to listen to the Maryland Symphony and the amazing fireworks. This picture gives some small idea of the size of the crowd! There are no pictures of the organized way that number of people left the fireworks at the end. The battlefield is off a two lane road that everyone had to use to leave! It was a marvel of organization and cooperation!

Mary and I went to the field at 10:00 in the morning to secure a place right on the front row in front of the artillery. We left a tarp staked down and it was still there when we went back at 8:30 in the evening! Because of our excellent spot we got the full effect of the canons during the 1812 Overture!!!

The fireworks just went on and on. Every time I thought it was the finale they started again. And when the fireworks did finally stop, the artillery continued for 3 or 4 more minutes. I understand "Shock and Awe" a little better.

At the bottom of this picture you can just barely see the artillery....we're talking modern stuff, not civil war canons!