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When Kyle Thompson, a history buff, learned a few years ago that he had ALS, he chose to spend the time he has left recording his Civil War-inspired songs. On Saturday, he recorded some of his pieces inside the McLean House at Appomattox Court House. The Washington Post Visit the Photo Place

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History's helper

Kyle Thompson, who has Lou Gehrig's disease, visited Old Salem Church last night to record Civil War music. Proceeds will go to Civil War Preservation Trust. Thompson is from California, has ancestors who fought in the Civil War and is here for a week

By BILL FREEHLING

Date published: 10/13/2004

By BILL FREEHLING

As darkness fell on Old Salem Church last night, crickets chirped, sirens blared and a man inflicted with a fatal disease sang to preserve a slice of history dear to his heart.

Accompanied by friends playing guitar and violin, Kyle Thompson sang through the pain in his throat--one of the many symptoms of the Lou Gehrig's disease that is taking over his body.

"Them boys of the Union will never march home," Thompson sang in a deep, slow rhythm. "'Cause Robert E. Lee has his cannons placed well. And when the Yankees come marchin'. He'll blow them right back to hell."

That was a verse from "Glory Road," one of 17 tracks that Thompson wrote about the Civil War and hopes to compile on a self-produced CD by Memorial Day.

All proceeds from the album--to be titled "From the Fields"--will go to the nonprofit Civil War Preservation Trust. The organization estimates that 20 percent of the country's Civil War battlefields have been destroyed by urban sprawl and development.

Thompson wants to help, and music is his way. But he knows that time is of the essence.

Five years ago, Thompson was studying to be a chef in Orange County, Calif., and preparing to start a family with his wife, Traci.

He started having what he now recognizes as early symptoms of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis--a fatal disease without cure that attacks nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord and leaves victims paralyzed.

There was pain in his back. He lost coordination. His triceps started twitching. It got hard to swallow.

In January 2001, at the age of 37, he was diagnosed with ALS--commonly named for the New York Yankees' first baseman who died of it.

The Thompsons no longer wanted to have children. His atrophying muscles kept him from wielding a knife or holding hot water, ruining his career as a chef. They moved to Arizona, where cheaper housing prices allowed more money for medical care.

The average length of survival after diagnosis is just three to five years, according to the ALS Association.

But instead of dwelling on his cramping muscles, gagging throat and inflamed joints, Thompson decided to travel. One of his early stops was the land of Dixie.

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Date published: 10/13/2004