Antietam National Battlefield

What once divided a nation turned into a big year for tourism in Washington County 150 years later. “2012 will probably go down in history as the busiest year, or at least one of the busiest years in the tourism industry in Washington County,” Tom Riford, president and CEO of the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau said Friday. “We expect well over 2 million visitors who have come to this county during this year, and we also anticipate visitor spending to exceed $300 million.” The sesquicentennial celebrations of the Battles of Antietam and the Battle of South Mountain, both part of the Maryland Campaign of the Civil War in 1862, played a major role in the increase of visitors, which are defined as people who travel 50 miles or more into the county, according to Riford.

Before the sun set Saturday, the thousands of luminarias arrayed across the fields of Antietam National Battlefield were almost invisible from a distance, the paper bags blending into a background of wheat, hay and corn stubble. As day gave way to dusk and dusk to darkness, the 23,110 candles began to glimmer and then glow, their lights following the contours of the land where an equal number of men were killed, wounded or reported missing 150 years ago during the Battle of Antietam.

On a quiet December evening, the flickering glow of candles will dot the darkened landscape at Antietam National Battlefield like thousands of stars that have fallen to the ground. Driving slowly through the park gates, visitors will be greeted by a single luminaria followed by another and another until suddenly, as far as the eye can see, rows and rows of candles will take their breath away. There will be 23,110 candles, to be exact - each one representing a soldier who was killed, wounded or missing at Antietam on Sept.

Age: 41 City: Williamsport (born in Baltimore) Day job: United Parcel Service Inc. (20 years); The Baltimore Bookworks LLC (the publishing house I founded in 2009) Book title: "Old Line Divided: Maryland in the Civil War: Volume I: Antebellum to 1862" Genre: United States history/Civil War Quick synopsis: A full narrative of the Civil War and of Maryland, and Marylanders in the Civil War. Publisher: The Baltimore Booksworks LLC Price: $29.95 Pages: 368, including photographs and index What inspired you to write the book?

Run for Kenzie 5K run and walk will be Saturday, Oct. 20, at Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg. 5K run and walk begin at 8:30 a.m. Kids Fun Run starts at 9:30 a.m. $30. Proceeds to benefit Mackenzie McCarter who was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. To register, go to www.iamathlete.com . For more information, email run4kenzie@gmail.com .

A man has been charged with setting a fire that gutted a house Friday night at 6601 Remsburg Road near Antietam National Battlefield, the Maryland State Fire Marshal's Office said Tuesday. Max Eugene Godlove, 50, was charged with one count each of first-degree arson, first-degree malicious burning, reckless endangerment and threat of arson, according to a fire marshal's office news release. If convicted on all counts, Godlove faces a maximum of 50 years in prison and $70,000 in fines.

Thumbs up to the organizers and participants in the recent Battle of Antietam Re-enactment in Fairplay and the 150th anniversary activities at Antietam National Battlefield. Many months of planning culminated in several days of battles, demonstrations, exhibits and speeches that gave us a glimpse of an important time in our nation's history. Thumbs up to the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Nationals, who have made professional baseball in late September matter to local fans for the first time in years.

Dunker Church, Antietam National Battlefield, Sharpsburg, International Day of Prayer for Peace worship service will be at 5 p.m. Sunday.

Age: Jim is 71, Sue  is 64 City in which you reside: Johnstown, Pa. Day job: Jim is safety manager at Carnegie Mellon University, Sue is a travel consultant at AAA Book title: "So You Think You Know Antietam? The Stories Behind America's Bloodiest Day. " Genre: A reviewer of our Gettysburg book, after which the Antietam book was patterned, said that the book "wears many hats. " Some have called it a photography book, others a book of battle trivia and some a travel guide.

Approximately 650 Boy Scouts attended the 150th commemoration events for the Battle of Antietam at Antietam National Battlefield during the past few days, said Tade Sullivan, the Mason-Dixon Council of Boy Scouts of America's district executive for Washington County. The boys helped direct parking, passed out water, helped with flag ceremonies, handed out programs and patrolled trails to assist anyone in need, Sullivan said. The National Park Service gave each scout a resource ranger stewardship award, which is a badge, Sullivan said.