The Badlands
Mt. Rushmore
The Sacred Black Hills
Waldrug
The Little Bighorn Battlefield
When we left for our trip we didn’t really know what was on our route, due to all around hasty decisions. Upon seeing the historic landmark (brown) signs for the Little Bighorn Battlefield, I, Thing 2/Doris Deadbones, decided that I had to go. After writing several papers in High School and relentlessly pouring over as many sources as there are grains of sand, I simply had to see it. I just could not resist. As we pulled off I-90 and accelerated up the hill I saw a booth, a Native American man in a park Ranger uniform, and a $10 per vehicle charge. But I still had to go. I could see the tall cement memorials from the car so, slightly hesitantly I handed over $10 of my $25 spending money for the whole trip.
First we made our way over to the US Soldier cemetery. The sweltering prairie day and bright sunlight made the headstones blindingly white next to the manicured green grass and cloudless blue sky. Walking through endless rows reading “Unknown US Soldier” and coming across officers of all ranks decorated with American flags and flowers was a fantasy experience of mine. Two 35mm camera’s in hand (one black and white film, one color) I gulped it all down as best I could. Acknowledging hundreds of long ago heroes, remembered there, on a sweaty mid July day.
We then hopped back in the car and drove up the hill, parked illegally with a small group of motorcycles, and not so small SUV’s and found what I was really looking for; the gravestone of General George Armstrong Custer. There, fenced off behind chest high iron bars was the General’s grave. Surrounded by a slew of Little Bighorn Indian warriors. “As it should be…” I thought to myself while listening to the rattlesnakes make known their presence and protecting their territory. Opposite the iron gates across a small walkway a massive cement poured memorial to General Custer has been built, positioned so the man himself may look upon it, gaze in reverie and observe his own greatness and those under his command.
Visiting the Little Bighorn Battlefield was an opportunity for me to solidify all my past research and to make something that had been just story, real and tangible.
It was worth every cent of my $10.
