The photo of VMI that was taken during the Civil War in 1864 is quite astounding. At the time it was devastating, but the more I look at it the more I realize that in the long run it is not as horrible as it once was. I look at it and think about all the history that has taken place here at the Institute and all that it represents. VMI was a key component in the war and we were the first and only school to ever deploy the entire student body into war. The rebuilding must have taken years and been quite expensive but that is all in the past. What the photo represents to me is how far we have come as a country, from once being at war with one another to now having young adults from all over the country come together at a place that was once a battle ground. The photo relates quite closely to me, seeing how I actually live in the old barracks. My room is a corner room that has the torrent and all the windows on it. It is kind of a creepy feeling knowing that where I sleep every night was once in complete ruins after a battle.