George Thomas

Heroes.
I have only a few from the CW. I admire many, but only revere one or two. Lincoln, for sure. Sam Houston (although he did not fight, he tried unsuccessfully to keep Texas in the Union). Then there's George Thomas, the Rock of Chickamauga.
He is a hero to me because he sacrificed so much for what he believed in. I often wonder what I'd done during that crisis. Would I have sided with what would have been most of my family, friends, and community? Probably. I probably would have been a product of the time like everyone else. Or...would I have been the same person I am now and no lover of slavery or prejudice of color? Would I have had the guts to do what George Thomas did, that is go against my heritage, family, and culture?
Wow, what a man he was. He stood up for what he believed in and sacrificed all for it. Family, friends, community, church. His sisters didn't even attend his funeral years after the war. It was attended by presidents, present, past, and future.
He probably wasn't fully trusted by his contemporaries because of his ties to the South. Yet, he was a hero. He was my kind of hero. I love non-conformists. He was one in spades!
He also was one of the best generals the North had. Admired by Lincoln and even mentioned specifically by him in praise of his actions at Chickamauga. No markers at his birthplace. No statues in his home state. The only statue of him is in Washington, DC.
I hope to visit that statue this summer.
I admire his stand against the norm. I admire his convictions. I admire his sacrifices.
I plan to get several books about him and his exploits so I can elaborate more on what I've discussed here!