I woke up this morning with a sense of awe washing over me. If you do any research into the actual events, attitudes, conflicts, personalities, and deep details of the Revolution (or any war) there is so much more than passing a law or taking a side. These men and women were brave, and frightened, and stubborn and passionate and…. Well, I get excited! God bless America – 250!
I realized as I parked that the corn was INDEED at LEAST knee high by the 4th of July!
When I originally thought about what I would like to do best in celebration, I decided there couldn’t be anything more fitting than spending the day at Hanna’s Town – A 1770’s frontier town, that drafted the Hanna’s Town Resolves, a document that pre-dated the Declaration of Independence. It was very hot, especially in the tavern where I was stationed for the day. But sharing information with the guests and visitors is always rewarding for me, and you can always tell when one of them actually ‘gets’ it. At 12:00 noon members of Proctor’s Militia took turns reading sections of the Declaration of Independence under a ‘witness’ tree by the LeFevre House in the field. My friend Louise had her grown children there – and she is from England (But with American citizenship!). Her son took part in the reading, and to hear him passionately declare his sentiments with the British inflection was very moving and impressive.
Lara – our director of education and in charge of the event.
Reading…
Louise’s son on the far left; Scott (Militia captain) third one over.
After the reading, I walked around taking pictures in the buildings.
Prices for ale in the bar.
Currency from the 1700’s
Bedside light
Rope bed – sleep tight!
Spinning
Very unusual day lilies
Inside the Goal (jail)
The militia had a ceremony to take down the ‘Rag of a British Flag’ (their words, not mine!) and raised the flag with thirteen stars and stripes. The American Colonies had declared their freedom.
Militia watching the flag ceremony
Lowering the British Flag
New American Flag
At 1pm Scott Henry (Captain of the militia) explained the purpose, responsibilities, and bravery of the members, and described the weapons and what the differences were. Then they did march out of the fort and shot several volleys.
Scott
Marching from the fort
First Volley
Fire!
I saw my sister and Paul there – but didn’t get to talk to them. They were headed to see Young Washington at the movies.
Demonstrating guns – Kathy and Paul are sitting on the bench by the building (she’s in a red shirt).
It was 92*, with a ‘feels like’ of 99*. I was thankful to have had several bottles of water with me – and everyone I saw was faithfully staying hydrated. I came home with the intention of weeding for half an hour, but after 15 it started to storm, and a loud crack of thunder was so close I felt it in the ground. So I came inside. For a brief moment the sun peeked through and there was a rainbow – but now it’s storming again. Looks like I’m inside for the day.
Rain!
Rainbow.
QUOTE of the DAY:
PEANUTS?
TOMORROW July 5th is:
Build a Scarecrow Day; Mechanical Pencil Day; National Apple Turnover Day; National Bikini Day; National Graham Cracker Day; National Hawaii Day; National Workaholics Day; Pet Remembrance Day; Work Without Your Hands Day; World Circle Dance Day.
The scarecrow should go in the corn field. Was it an itsy, bitsy, teeny, weeny, yellow polka-dot bikini? God bless – AMERICA!
On this day in History:1776 US Congress proclaims the Declaration of Independence and independence from Great Britain
AND M&M’s!!
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