By Jenna Kersten '17
At Siena College, learning does not stop when one leaves the classroom; it can happen anywhere. The Gettysburg battlefield was that place for the students who went on the Siena History Club’s annual trip to the Civil War battleground.
“If we don’t care, it’s forgotten. A sacrifice that big for a country shouldn’t be forgotten,” said history major Emma Bettiol ’15. “We need to learn from the past.”
Students spent the weekend in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania where they were immersed in the history of the battlefield. They walked through its various parts and heard stories about the people who played a role in the events that occurred there.
Retired librarian and lecturer of history John Vallely led the trip. He consistently connected the events of the battle to human reality. “What I want you to remember throughout this trip is that this is you. This is us – all the men who fought here,” Vallely said to the students.
As they heard the story of the three day battle, the students also learned about individual men and their lives before, during and after the war – stories that were humorous, tragic, and oftentimes both. This sense of personal connection to the battle is one of the things that Vallely highlighted on the trip. “This is a scene of carnage, but humans are involved,” he said.
The trip to Gettysburg is one of several trips to historical sites that Siena’s History Club takes each year. Most of the trips are planned and executed by students.
“They go where history happened, and they search for it there to try and understand it,” Vallely said.
One of the interesting aspects of this trip, and the History Club in general, is its ability to appeal to history lovers of all majors. This assortment of different people coming together is one of the reasons that so many students enjoy participating.
“We are the future. We’re the ones who have to care,” said Bettiol.
“History is never dull,” Vallely said, once again connecting the past to today’s Siena students. “The people taking part in it are just like you and I--we just dress differently, that’s all.”
Click here to learn more about studying history at Siena College.
