My first memory? The Civil War.

[Louisiana1976]

Bucking cannons belch fire and thunder. Men in blue and grey hurl themselves at each other; yelling, falling, screaming, groaning, writhing. Dying? I don't really understand what that word means yet, but with my eyes burning from acrid gunsmoke, I fearfully cling to mama's leg as fury and fear expends itself on the surrounding hillsides.

Eventually a white flag flies. The gunfire and yelling begin to taper off. Prostrate soldiers begin to stir and stand, and now the warriors are shaking hands with those around them, regardless of the color they wear. The crowd sends up a cheer.

Daddy kneels in front of me, clearly amused by my fear and confusion. The centennial reenactment of the Confederate's loss at Vicksburg is cemented as my first conscious memory when he laughs in my face.

snip

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2009/12/29/812970/-My-first-memory-The-Civil-War.

[GreenPartyVoter]

1. Wow! That's a powerful one there. Thanks for sharing that.