Mr. Virgo was a Civil War buff. When he was a little boy growing up in South Philly, he was in the Boy Scouts and they went on a field trip to Gettysburg. They were taking a tour of the battlefield and trying to find a particular place. Mr. Virgo kept pointing over the edge of a hill, insisting what they were looking for would be found there. Finally, the adults listened to him and, sure, enough, it was exactly where he said it would be. When asked how he knew, Mr. Virgo told them he had been there before. His dad was on the tour with the boys that day and overheard the conversation. When they got to the car, his dad asked him what he was talking about. He told him he had been there before. But his dad said he hadn’t ever been there. Mr. Virgo said, “Yes, I was. It was when I was a soldier!”

Last night, The Fields of Gettysburg was being performed at the newly refurbished People’s Bank Theater. It’s sort of like Jesus Christ Superstar for history buffs. Written by John Walsh, a local musician, I thought it was a brilliant concept and the original score was excellent. It followed the story of six people and how their lives intermeshed, both on and off the field of battle. I was particularly touched by “Ghosts on These Fields” and “Bread Alone”. I am so glad I went. Mr. Virgo would have loved it.

I love surprises and this was certainly a pleasant one.

❤️

“So Saul said to his attendants, “Find someone who plays well and bring him to me.”

1 Samuel 16:17 NIV