Editor’s note: This commentary is by state Sen. Joe Benning, who represents the Caledonia-Orange District in the Vermont Senate.
[T]here’s a lot of noise in the media these days as politicians and political organizations do battle with each other. It leaves the impression that Vermonters are hopelessly divided as a people. Looking around the political landscape, it is hard to believe that we’ll ever be able to come together again as a society. But there is hope.
Oct. 19 marked the 150th anniversary of the Civil War’s Battle of Cedar Creek, an event that every Vermonter can look back upon with pride. With a common foe, our ancestors stood in unison as they mustered troops for that war. Vermont soldiers of every political stripe stood shoulder-to-shoulder against terrible odds to protect the greatest human experiment ever achieved. Their heroism in that horrific battle and, perhaps more importantly, their ability to stitch back together a stronger society with their former enemies, gives reason to believe that no mere political differences will ever undermine what Vermont represents to the nation and the world.
I led a contingent of Vermont motorcyclists from the Central Vermont Harley Owners group to the Cedar Creek battle’s anniversary celebrations in Middletown, Virginia. We, too, come from every political stripe, but our common hobby unites us with ease. As the highest ranking official present from Vermont, I was given the honor of representing the state during a special ceremony unveiling a Vermont roadside historical marker and display sign that had just been installed on the battlefield. They had been authorized by your Legislature to commemorate Vermont’s role in the Civil War for our sesquicentennial celebrations.
The group of us was treated like royalty during this event by the Virginians who hosted it, as well as by re-enactors from around the country who were there to mark the occasion. We were given a position of honor next to the commanding general during a formal pass in review by almost 3,000 Union re-enactors. (In accompanying photograph, you can see us saluting the Vermont contingent.)
A memory that I will carry forever was the moment that author/historian Howard Coffin and I unveiled the historical roadside marker. We were surrounded by many Vermonters, who no doubt also represent every political stripe, swelling with pride and snapping their cameras as the marker’s cover was removed. The noise of our current political season was instantly forgotten. It was replaced by the firing of a 21-gun and 36-cannon salute, a round of “huzzahs” by several hundred Vermont re-enactors, and the applause and shouts of “hurray” from the Vermonters who had come to witness this historic event.
Vermont will survive this political season. The ghosts of Cedar Creek guarantee it.
