According to the brochures that was handed to me at the entrance, the luminaries were representing men who were killed, wounded, or missing were place at the state memorials - one luminary for each soldier from that state who was a casualty. Of the 19,233 casualties, records could not determine the exact location for 2,228 confirmed casualties that could not be identified by state were dispersed though out the Grand Illumination in yellow bags to mark them as confirmed, but unidentified casualties. No site had less than 100 luminaries. The traditional white bag luminaries represented confirmed casualties honored at their state memorial. In addition to state monuments, several sites were selected to honor other casualties including the U. S. Colored Troops and the C. S. River Batteries.
"...we can not dedicate, we can not consecrate, we can not hallow this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract."
~Abraham Lincoln, Gettysburg Address
Memorial Arch
Minnesota Memorial
Michigan Memorial
Wisconsin Memorial
African American Monument
Maj. General Ulysses S. Grant's Headquarters
Rhode Island Monument
U.S. Navy Monument
Setting sun.
Nearing the USS Cairo Museum.
The Yazoo River Diversion Canal.
Fort Hill
Tennessee Memorial
Missouri Memorial
Arkansas Memorial
Louisiana Memorial
Mississippi Memorial
Texas Monument
Indiana
Coming up on the Iowa Memorial.
Iowa Memorial
Trying to drive and take pictures...
Traffic jam at the entrance with people trying to get in to see the Grand Illumination.
Heading out...a wonderful experience.
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