Soldiers
National Monument
Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania
#NC-10315-MM - Notecards
Also available in Assortment Pack #AST-854
Open Edition Prints will be available early 2003
Dedicated
July 1, 1869
Landscape architect William Saunders, founder of the National
Grange, called for the creation of this monument when designing
the National Cemetery. Located near the center of the Union line,
the cemetery became the final resting place for Union soldiers
who originally had been buried in shallow graves throughout the
battlefield.
The
Soldiers National Monument, Gettysburg’s first major memorial,
features five elaborate marble statues on a granite pedestal.
Eighteen stars encircling the pedestal represent each of the states
with sons buried in the cemetery. A female “Genius of Liberty”
figure holds a sword in her left hand and a laurel wreath in her
right hand as she looks down upon the graves. Beneath her are
statues representing History, War, Peace and Plenty. The statues
were carved in Italy under the direction of sculptor Randolph
Rogers.
Text
© 2002 Terry White, Drawing © 2002 Bill Harrah