Today's battlefield is a record not only of the conflict, but also of change, some of which may be important in its own right. The battlefield we see today is a sum of many parts, all of which teach us about our past. The seige and battle lasted 13 days. Look out over the land where warriors and soldiers bravely fought and died, the old farmhouse where the wounded were treated by nurses and volunteers, the church on the hilltop where commanders planned their strategy, or the remnants of a fortification once so strong it held safe the future of a nation. You can almost see the bayonets flash, hear the guns and war cries, feel the cannon roar, and sense the bravery, pain, and suffering.
Battlefields are special places because they evoke vivid images and awaken our shared emotions.
Here is the sacred ground where we honor those who fought and feel a connection to our past. By visiting these sites, we gain a greater understanding of and appreciation for what took place. There is more to a battlefield than immediately meets the eye. An important piece of this irreplaceable landscape is the reality of that long-ago battle that lies hidden underground. Archeological evidence documenting past events needs to be carefully preserved for future generations.