Posted in General Talking
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Old Sturbridge Village has been taken over by Revolutionary War re-enactors this weekend. Today was my first chance to see these folks at the Village and it was an experience I hope I never forget. The common was completely covered with the tents of the various regiments, mostly British soldiers staying there while the colonists were encamped in the yards and across from the village homes and businesses. My oldest daughter said it best when she said, "I hardly recognize this place with all these tents and soldiers here. This must be how it felt and looked to the people who lived in Boston when the British camped on their common." I just love when a field trip is so good that my child *feels* it. After walking about and getting a feel for the new "scenery," we met up with MusingMom and her family. We enjoyed a toy hot air balloon exhibit. The children thought it was fabulous when one of the balloons almost landed on us. And my friend and I looked at each other and said "We could make one of these." The demonstrator told us that they were made of paper. It seemed like a heavy tissue paper of sorts but she said they used to make them from newspaper or you could also use cloth. She had made hers up that very morning with paper and attached the pieces together with nothing more than paste. Ladies, we have a new project! LOL After the hot air balloons we went to listen to the fife and drums.
Our kids behaved very well and stayed quiet while listening. I was a very proud Mama. Here they are with their buddies. You can see some of the white tents in the background. I hope those babies are waterproof, because it did rain pretty good in the afternoon. It started just as the first battle began out in the farmers' fields.
Now this was kind of funny and really brought home the image of old time battles. Way out on the left hand side of the field, behind the men, there are a flock of Canada geese. Now mind you, not all the soldiers are on the field yet but the firing has begun.
In this one you can see them behind that man standing alone in the field. Now picture this, a flock of geese in a field, a couple regiments of British and American troops come walking onto the field and start "shooting" at each other and no one shews the geese away. They do eventually leave but it takes several shots fired before they get the hint that their field is being taken over. It just seems so surreal to me. It never occurred to me that there would be animals present during these battles. I don't know why. I just never thought of it.
DD reads a lot of historical fiction. Much of it American history and she loved that she got to see what an actual battle would have looked like. Now she can get a better picture in her head when she is reading her books. My 4yo found the cannon fire to be a bit loud.
The show, though acted out, was a meaningful way to remind us of what our countrymen went through to give us freedom from British rule. Yeah, we joked around a lot and couldn't help but find it funny when some of the fallen men in the field started sitting up and moving about when the rains came. But in our hearts we know that 232 years ago, there were real men on the fields of Massachusetts fighting real battles. They were afraid. They were courageous. Some had wives and children who were praying for their lives to be spared. And many did not get back up again. |
These guys played really well. They have definitely been practicing. 
They stopped between each piece to tell the crowd what each tune meant to the soldiers and also the origins of each song. Of course they played Yankee Doodle because, well, it just wouldn't have been right if they didn't.
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Posted by Anonymous 