The Memorial at Manassas, Bull Run

The Sandstone obelisk was placed to honor those who had fought and died in the Battle of Bull Run.

The Obelisk is cornered by four shells from the period.

For decades people came to see the Battlefield and the memorial. In the 1970's the National Park Service started a extensive rehabilitation of the monument which had deteriorated over time.

During the removal of the shells for the work it was discovered that the rounds still had their fuses intact. It turned out that the builders back then offered true realism in the fact that the shells used for the memorial were installed live. 

The four Parrott shells were deactivated and reinstalled at the site.

Where they remained part of the memorial until they were stolen within a few years of their replacement.

Isn't History Fun.