Silence the cannon, reflect on war

EDITOR,
In Felton, for too long, we have been yielding to the thunderous booms, the shaking of the ground under our houses, and the rattling of our windows — to honor what? For years I’ve wanted to write this letter and was inspired by a recent writer about these Civil War battle re-enactments.
If we who experience this insanity locally could vote whether or not to keep this noisy event, I believe, it wouldn’t pass.
The veterans I have known well, including my father and a close friend, never touted the wonders of war. What I remember the most from them were their everlasting nightmares. My father had nightmares till the day he died. Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder? You bet! For a lifetime.
More soldiers died in the blood bath of the Civil War than in all other U.S. wars combined. PTSD then was referred to as “shell shock” — that’s how we neighbors feel on holidays when these battles are relived continuously for several days.
Any other event wreaking this much havoc on our peaceful lifestyle would not be allowed. But God help us with some of our traditions: We exalt the horrors of the past to a status of glory while we shudder watching the violence in our midst.
I am not saying these stories should not be told. They should. But, why not tell the whole story and create a new tradition that helps us learn from and heal the wounds, not just relive the battles?
It seems to me the best way to honor those who have given their lives in war is to educate ourselves about the causes of war and how to prevent its horrible suffering. Yes, I know, thrill seekers love the big “booms,” but on a real battlefield there are no thrills.
Paula Cordes, Felton