144 years ago today marked the official beginning of the end of the U.S. Civil War. General Robert E. Lee officially surrendered but it still took a while for the word to get out and for the actual fighting to stop all around the country. Being able to visit Appomattox last summer was a bit of a lifelong dream finally able to come true.  Though we didn't get a chance to spend much time there, it was still neat to spend some time where some of the men that I've heard about my whole life actually walked and did the things that I've learned about in a classroom.