Thereat: Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb, On Our Way Johnny Rebs

Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Camped

​X of XIII
 
“Nice landing Gus.”
“Quite a trip.”
“Quite.”
“Was that Gettysburg we flew over?”
“Right.”
“You said something, but I couldn’t hear you over the noise.”
“Music.”
“If you say so.”
“You showed some footwork.”
“All that marching Reb.”
“The music varies Gus.”
“Well there’s something to look forward to.”
“I was pointing to the Gettysburg ‘fish hook.’”
“Saw that: formidable.”
“And then Washington DC.”
“Inspiring.”
“Up the Potomac …”
“We passed Harper’s Ferry.”
“… And to Shepherdstown.”
“The Johnnies? – Where are they Reb?”
“Camped a hundred yards over the tree-line.”
“Heard that before.”
“You ready Yank?”
“Sure … just jesting to calm down.”
“Say when.”
“When.”
“This way …”

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Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat Unknowns

​“… Here Gus.”
“Camped?”
“Permanently.”
“Reb?”
“Sorry.”
“An Unknown.”
“Many actually.”
“There are people over there.”
“This is a memorial service.”
“Can they see us?”
“They’re not looking.”
“What if they did?”
“If they look, it’s not likely they’ll see.”
“Some see?”
“Some.”
“Oh.”
“How about you: did you see spirits Gus?”
“What kind of question is that?”
“What kind of answer is that?”
“Not a very good one.”
“Sounds a little like maybe.”
“Maybe … Shepherdstown is near Sharpsburg.”
“Across the Potomac, about two miles.”
“Soldiers buried here from Antietam?”
“There are.”
“Lots of Rebs Reb.”
“Parts of us.”
“Us?”
“What’s a Reb without a Yank?”
“Alive.”
“Interesting.”

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Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb Thereat In-Formation

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​“You look to be in-formation.”
“Especially up left.”
“Men at parade rest.”
“Right.”
“Are these flags always up?”
“No, just for the memorial.”
“Feels nice, the remembrance.”
“Not everyone would agree.”
“Why?”
“Contentious.”
“Why?”
“You tell me.”
“I don’t know.”
“What do you see?”
“‘Mericans.”
“Most just see flags.”
“Christians.”
“What else?”
“Looks like an American and Confederate flag at the base of that monument.”
“I see them.”
“Let’s go there.”
“After you Yank.”

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*Next Up: Sunday 10 December and Thereat part XI, Gus Kotka and Johnny Reb On Our Way Memories.
 
Posted by Bryan W. Brickner

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