The old saying, modified by many people over the years including Winston Churchill, goes something like, “Those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it.”

It is with that thought in mind that our nation will soon begin recognizing the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, 1861, and continuing through 1865.

This sesquicentennial will last five years but this is a good thing because it will help remind Americans of the darkest days of our nation.

At a time when partisanship and the political divide seem to be at an all time high, it is important to remember all that our nation overcame.

The recognition and remembrance shouldn’t be about North or South. It shouldn’t be about Yankees or Rebels. It shouldn’t be about black or white. It should focus on how our nation got to this point and how we overcame it.

The Civil War Trust, an organization dedicated to preserving the history and the battlefields of the Civil War has been using this quote by Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain to sum up the need for recognition.

“In great deeds something abides. On great fields something stays; Forms change and pass; bodies disappear, but spirits linger, to consecrate ground for the vision-place of souls. And reverent men and women from afar, and generations that know us not and that we know not of, heart-drawn to see where and by whom great things were suffered and done for them, shall come to this deathless field to ponder and dream; And lo! the shadow of a mighty presence shall wrap them in its bosom, and the power of the vision pass into their souls.”

States and organizations will be holding a variety of commemorative events over the next five years.

Every American should take a few minutes to reflect on the significance of the Civil War and how it shaped our nation.

Imagine how America would be if this hadn’t happened or if the Confederacy had won.

To provide a window into this history, the Associated Press has compiled more than 40 photographs of the battles and landmarks.

The Tribune will present these in a special section next month as a way to provide some historical context for this anniversary.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, these images say much more than that.

Our nation seems more divided now than it has been in many years. Partisanship seems to trump common sense in Washington, D.C., and even in small towns across America.

Although the idealogical chasm hasn’t come close to the levels it did in 1861, much can be learned by looking at what tore our nation apart and how we were able to put it back together.

To borrow from another well-worn quote, “United we stand. Divided we fall.”

Michael Caldwell is publisher of The Tribune. To reach him, call (740) 532-1445 ext. 24 or by e-mail at mike.caldwell@irontontribune.com.