"Old Simon"

I don't have the words to describe the impact of the emotions that assailed me as I saw for the first time the Private Soldier Monument at Antietam National Cemetery. It stands 44' tall towering over everything as if its standing watch over the fallen.  A very sad time in our nation's history but it formed us and made us the great country we are today and I pray will always be.  Freedom has never been free and we have a tendency to forget it much too easily.  We are also drifting away from the principles our country was formed on.  I pray as well that we don't lose the blessing and protection.