Lest we forget

Towns across the state are remembering the 150th anniversary of the Civil War with reenactments, group tours, balls and receptions.

Upcoming events include the Hillsboro Rabbit Run Theater's play this weekend regarding the Union in Confederate Virginia, the Jennie Dean Historic Site Civil War baseball games (July 22, 23), Winchester's Kernstown's Battlefield walking tour on July 30 and the two-day Civil War reenactment in Chantilly (which includes a Civil War fashion show) on August 13 and 14.

Debbie Haight, the Executive Director of Historic Manassas, said more Civil War battles were fought on Virginia soil than in any other state.

"In Virginia, you couldn't turn over some piece of soil without finding a remnant -- a button or a musket ball," Haight said. "It's still the same way today."

Dr. Robert Spinney, professor of history at Patrick Henry College, believes that Christians should be especially interested in Civil War history.

"Christians should be interested in the history of the Civil War for the same reason that they should be interested in the history of Israel's war with the Philistines," he said. "History teaches us about people in action. It helps us better understand ourselves. This is because I am little different from Abraham: I may have a cell phone and he may have 3,000 goats, but our human natures are identical."

According to Spinney, history also teaches people about God by allowing them to see the way He interacts with the world, whether through parting the Red Sea or allowing a civil war to plague a nation.

The Manassas battlefield is hosting the largest Civil War reenactment in Northern Virginia (July 21 -- 24), as well as welcoming a smartphone application, which provides a guided tour of the battlefield.

The new app made its formal debut July 12 at Manassas National Battlefield. The trust was joined by state officials, as well as representatives from Prince William County and local tourism officials.

The "Bull Run Battle App" will help guide tourists through the northern Virginia battleground using audio, video and animated content.

Haight is hoping the smartphone application will bring a younger generation to Manassas. She thinks Civil War history is often "under-utilized" and is hoping this year's publicity will change that.

"Manassas is not a battlefield stuck right off the highway," she said. "It really has character."

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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