Quote of the Day
By David McKee ~ July 26th, 2010 @ 3:50 pm
“I found a business that has a good story. Despite all the attacks on the business, this is a business that’s never held its hand out, never asked for subsidies.” — former Penn National Gaming executive and would-be Gettysburg casino developer Joseph Lashinger, speaking in defense of the industry. The accompanying article provides valuable perspective on the Gettysburg casino controversy.
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July 27th, 2010 at 5:01 am
Hello David. I am very familiar with the Gettysburg National Battleground, visiting there at least once a year. So I understand the concerns expressed by some folks. It is indeed, as Mr. Lincoln stated in November of 1863, consecrated ground; done so by the blood and sacrifice of thousands of men.
However, I do have to concur with Park Superintendent Kirby’s thoughts in that Holyoke Republican article. This is really much ado about nothing. The proposed location on Emmitsburg Road is far enough south of the battlefield so that most people would never see the casino unless passing it while approaching north from that town in Maryland. It is some distance south of the Eisenhower Farm where Ike and Mamie spent their retirement. That is the only historical location nearby, and most visitors don’t visit even there as it has not relationship to the battle itself.
As the superintendent mentions, there are far more eye-sores and honky-tonk tourist traps that cannot be avoided simply visiting the Cemetery Ridge/Hill area which is what most day trippers to Gettysburg go to see.
Tom