Matt Koller reads what sounds like writing out of a history book, but is actually one man’s personal diary.”He says, ‘It’s my wish that you never join the army, that you never join the military because it is so awful,'” said Koller.To Matt Koller — it’s not just any man. These are the words of his great-great-grandfather, James Waxler.”He was called into the Pennsylvania emergency to fight at Gettysburg,” said Koller. “He says, ‘Being so young, I just wanted to feel that excitement.'”Koller first opened the diary 15 years ago. It details Waxler’s experience of years through war, including the brotherhood of battle.”If you went into the supply tent and took something, they hung you up in the pig pen,” said Koller. “They put you up on a table or something, and thumbs were like tied up while everybody looks at you, but he talks about how that was a great honor,” said Koller.The diary also describes the grim reality of war, when that very brotherhood is broken.”‘I helped to place the wounded on a table, nearby a wagon was full of the arms and legs of our wounded,'” read Koller.Koller first thought about publishing the journal, but he then decided on a different idea.”A light bulb went off, and it was like, I’m a musician, I direct choirs, you know, like how did I miss this?” said Koller.With the help of his choir, the Fort Myers Mastersingers, and his friend and composer, Thomas LaVoy, Koller is translating these words into a performance piece titled “The Witness: Incidents of the War of the Rebellion.””Hear about the daily life as a soldier, how he felt in battle, and how much heaviness it brought to his life,” said Koller.In this diary, like in all history, it is more than just a story of long ago. In it is a conversation for today. “I have to find a way to get this out there!” said Koller. “He wrote it for his son, but I think it belongs to all of us. It’s overwhelming to think that the piece could bring about change. It can inform us or at least get some of us to question who we are.”You can attend “The Witness: Incidents of the War of the Rebellion” at Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral on March 21 at 5 p.m. and at the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs on March 22 at 4 p.m.DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.

CAPE CORAL, Fla. —

Matt Koller reads what sounds like writing out of a history book, but is actually one man’s personal diary.

“He says, ‘It’s my wish that you never join the army, that you never join the military because it is so awful,'” said Koller.

To Matt Koller — it’s not just any man. These are the words of his great-great-grandfather, James Waxler.

“He was called into the Pennsylvania emergency to fight at Gettysburg,” said Koller. “He says, ‘Being so young, I just wanted to feel that excitement.'”

Koller first opened the diary 15 years ago. It details Waxler’s experience of years through war, including the brotherhood of battle.

“If you went into the supply tent and took something, they hung you up in the pig pen,” said Koller. “They put you up on a table or something, and thumbs were like tied up while everybody looks at you, but he talks about how that was a great honor,” said Koller.

The diary also describes the grim reality of war, when that very brotherhood is broken.

“‘I helped to place the wounded on a table, nearby a wagon was full of the arms and legs of our wounded,'” read Koller.

Koller first thought about publishing the journal, but he then decided on a different idea.

“A light bulb went off, and it was like, I’m a musician, I direct choirs, you know, like how did I miss this?” said Koller.

With the help of his choir, the Fort Myers Mastersingers, and his friend and composer, Thomas LaVoy, Koller is translating these words into a performance piece titled “The Witness: Incidents of the War of the Rebellion.”

“Hear about the daily life as a soldier, how he felt in battle, and how much heaviness it brought to his life,” said Koller.

In this diary, like in all history, it is more than just a story of long ago. In it is a conversation for today.

“I have to find a way to get this out there!” said Koller. “He wrote it for his son, but I think it belongs to all of us. It’s overwhelming to think that the piece could bring about change. It can inform us or at least get some of us to question who we are.”

You can attend “The Witness: Incidents of the War of the Rebellion” at Faith Presbyterian Church in Cape Coral on March 21 at 5 p.m. and at the First Presbyterian Church of Bonita Springs on March 22 at 4 p.m.

DOWNLOAD the free Gulf Coast News app for your latest news and alerts on breaking news, weather, sports, entertainment, and more on your phone or tablet. And check out the Very Local Gulf Coast app to stream news, entertainment and original programming on your TV.