While attending Conexpo in March I did a day trip to the Hoover Dam, and befriended a fellow Conference delegate and his wife. When we weren’t looking at concrete and canyon walls my friend mentioned he was a Virginian.
Being a history nut I asked if he lived near any of the Civil War battlefields.
“Five miles walk from our home sir” he replied. Cue a discussion about the Blue and Grey armies of 150 years prior.
As we parted I promised I’d send him a subscription to Contractor magazine, while he promised to send some battlefield souvenirs.

Four months later a parcel arrives on my desk. Enclosed is a plastic bag with two dirt encrusted bullets, a minie-ball and the button from a New York regiment uniform.
“That’s a long walk from Virginia..” states the attached note.