VAN ORUM WAGON TRAIN MASSACRE
For the past 10 years I have driven a few dozen times to Huntington, OR. Every time I go, we pass this part of the highway where there is a lone grave site. I have wanted to stop for years, feeling a strange responsibility to whoever was down there, to learn their story. Yesterday, I finally made Drew stop. As I walked down with his mom, I was really excited that I was finally doing it! I expected it to be a story related to the Oregon trail of course, being where we were. I was naively excited about it. I'm not sure why I didn't feel the gravity of what probably happened on the exact ground I was standing.
It was eery listen to Jean read the story out loud as I leaned against the fence that surrounded it, protected it. The sun was setting and made the air around us crisp and cold. Fitting I thought. These people didn't save the world, they aren't famous, they aren't people that changed any big part of our history. In that sense, I guess most people would feel like they are just a casualty of times surrounding them. A moment of silence would probably have been enough for most people to feel ok about what happened there.
Call me sentimental, but I felt a connection to these people. For 10 years I have thought of whoever was there, whatever happened. Felling almost guilty for not knowing what someone gave up to settle where they did, what they went through. Now I know their story. I love these people. I love them because they did something I couldn't. I love them because they were strong and fearless, and did what they had too in the face of the impossible. I won't retell their story in my words, it won't do it justice. I took a picture of the write up. I hope you read it, so that they can be remembered, as they should be.
Crystal.... I love that you felt the need to stop and learn of this history. The people that came before us (these people and our own) lived a life that we need to learn about and respect. For these are the people that gave their lives so that we can live ours.... more stories are ready for you to read, enjoy and feel the deep feelings for.... each of us has relatives that have stories to be told. Thanks for sharing. Proud of you :)
ReplyDeletei wonder if you will get to heaven one day and meet a relative that was a part of this, it's interesting to think what drives our need to know about things. I have places I drive that I think.. "I've lived in Yelm most of my life and never stopped on this road that I've driven 1000 times, literally (probably more than 1000). I love that you stopped.
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