Antietam Remembrance Walk from Sharpsburg to Shepherdstown on September 16

Author: ITP News Desk | Published: 07/30/2012 | 223 Views | Short URL: http://itpwv.com/local/n/9001

Sharpsburg, MD - On Sunday, September 16, 2012 there will be a walk from Sharpsburg, MD to Shepherdstown, WV commemorating the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam.  The three mile commemorative walk will begin at 5:30 pm in Sharpsburg. All are welcome to participate in remembering this historic event.

One hundred and fifty years ago two small towns in adjoining states got caught up in the nasty business of war.  On one day, the fields of Antietam were witness to the bloodiest battle of not only the Civil War but every war in the history of the United States. The two armies were gone as quickly as they had come leaving behind a horrifying scene of destruction. Of the 23,000 dead and wounded that lay on the battle field that day, 10,000 casualties walked or were carried to Shepherdstown. Virtually every available building from townhouse to church was opened by the citizenry between the two towns to serve as a hospital or a morgue for the wounded and dead of both sides.

The September 16th journey will be along the same route taken by thousands of wounded men on their way to receive whatever help they could find. The walk is meant to honor the fallen that fought and died in those fields that day but just as important, it is also a tribute to the citizens of Sharpsburg and Shepherdstown who cared for the wounded, buried the dead, and found a way to get back to the business of living.

For more information on the Antietam Remembrance Walk and to register for this free event, please go to http://www.antietamremembrance.org.

The Antietam Remembrance Walk is sponsored, in part, by the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. For more information, and to see a calendar of events for the 150th Anniversary of the Battles of Harpers Ferry, South Mountain and Antietam, along with re-enactments and living history activities, see: http://www.marylandmemories.com.  There are scores of Civil War 150th Anniversary Events in Washington County during 2012!

The Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau is a 501(c)(6) nonprofit organization whose mission is to help attract visitors to Hagerstown and Washington County. The CVB helps to create growth for the local economy by promoting, developing and expanding the local visitor industry.

Washington County is part of the Heart of the Civil War Heritage Area: http://www.heartofthecivilwar.org and the Journey Through Hallowed Ground National Heritage Area: http://hallowedground.org.