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Gettysburg Artist-in-Residence Rick Stark Jr. goes over his notes for a recently-written poem.

Gettysburg Artist-in-Residence Rick Stark Jr. goes over his notes for a recently-written poem. (Ken-Yon Hardy/Stars and Stripes)

GETTYSBURG, Pa. — Retired Army Col. Rick Stark Jr. is the latest to participate in the Artist-in-Residence program at Gettysburg National Military Park.

Stark, Jr., a poet, is wrapping up his residency, and will release a number of poems inspired by his time at the Civil War battleground.

"I've walked with, I talked with visitors and park rangers, and spent time alone at monuments getting a sense of the place," Stark said. "I think all national parks have an essential beauty and (global) heritage about them, and Gettysburg has that.

"Beyond that, it has a special meaning because of the sacrifice (here that was) wise or otherwise."

hardy.kenyon@stripes.com

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