Americas March to Yorktown (AMtY) through Delaware
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Text by Ralph Nelson and photos by Kay Nelson except where otherwise noted
2006 Sept 05: Chester PA via the Robinson House (Claymont) to Adams Mart (Wilmington)
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Ralph Nelson, David Fagerberg, Mike Fitzgerald, Mike Chuckta, Peter Paul Ricciardi, Peter Ricciardi,
David Holloway, and Gen. Frank Ianni in the front portico of the Robinson House.
{photo courtesy of Frances West} Fagerberg, Fitzgerald, and Holloway are the full-route AMtY marchers, who had just arrived after a two-hour march in the rain from Chester PA, accompanied by the Ricciardis. Peter Paul and Peter Ricciard are a Boy Scout son and father from North Bergen NJ. They spent several days marching with the AMtY team. They were accompanied by Peter's wife (Peter Paul's mother) Ramona Ricciardi. Mike Chuckta is a member of the Connecticut Society SAR and the 6th Connecticut Regiment (re-enactment). He marched on Sept 6 and 7, but drove today. |
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Claymont Renaissance Director Brett Saddler (left),
Delaware House Majority Leader Wayne A. Smith (right)
and New Castle County Councilman John Cartier (not shown)
welcomed the audience and the marchers to the PA/DE border ceremony.
{photo courtesy of Frances West}
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Saundra Chapman (DAR), Ed Fielding (SAR), and Gen. Frank Ianni
(W3R®-DE)
spoke of how their organizations have helped develop
trail activities since 1999.
{photo courtesy of Frances West}
Marcher Mike Fitzgerald told how the march group was formed
and noted some of its experiences.
{photo courtesy of Frances West}
Mark Glaze of DelDOT presented the mockup of a "gateway" sign,
here held by Ralph Nelson.
The real sign will soon be placed at the PA / DE border
along the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (Rt 13).
{photo courtesy of Frances West}
After the border ceremony the marchers started south from
the Robinson House in a driving rain:
Peter and Peter Paul Ricciardi, Ralph Nelson (in yellow),
David Fagerberg, Mike Fitzgerald, and David Holloway.
[Ralph Nelson (Delaware SAR color guardsman)
marched about 5 of the 15 miles today.]
{photo courtesy of Frances West}
Due to the rain and consequent scheduling problems
we have no photos of the rest of
the march down the Philadelphia Pike to Wilmington and
down Market St. past the Grand
Opera House, over to Washington St. and across 4th St,
ending at the Adams Shopping Center.
We have no photos of the Navy JROTC color guard
from the Delaware Military Academy
or the greetings by Wilmington Mayor James Baker and
DelMarVa Scout Council Executive Pat Sterett.
The day's rainfall totaled about 4 inches, and the roads
had broad bands of water rushing down them.
Those who marched all day spent about six hours marching
through the downward and horizontal torrents.
In the evening the marchers dined at the Delaware Military Academy
with the color guard.
Following that Ralph Nelson spoke on "Naval Strategy and the
1781 Battle of the Virginia Capes".
The Ricciardis returned home to New Jersey later that evening.
2006 Sept 06: Adams Mart (Wilmington) to Iron Hill Museum (Newark)
Mike Chuckta, David Fagerberg, Mike Fitzgerald, Rose Morin (driver of the AMtY support van),
and David Holloway at the mill-stone by Richardson's Mill, where they stayed the previous night.
We don't have photos of them walking on Rt 4 over Churchman's
Road and under I-95.
This is just as well, since it was quite an exciting venture.
There was heavy traffic as the AMtY marchers crossed
Cooch's Bridge.
Ned Cooch greeted the marchers and invited them in
to see his home.
They struck a dramatic pose at the monument to the
Battle of Coochs Bridge.
At 4 PM they reached the Iron Hill Museum, where they
camped on the night of Sept 06.
[Mike Chuckta marched today, and Ralph Nelson marched
about 5 of the 12 miles.]
The Pencader Area Heritage Association hosted a dinner
at the Blue and Gold Club
at the University of Delaware in Newark DE. We drank
toasts and told many stories.
2006 Sept 07: Iron Hill Museum (Newark) to Elkton MD
The truck (George) and trailer (Martha) that Rose Morin is driving.
The trailer has an illustration of the original march by 21st century artist David R. Wagner.
On the other side is a map of the locations of the original 44 campsites from Boston MA to Yorktown VA
Bill Voigt, Phil Shank, David Holloway*, Mike Chuckta, Mike Fitzgerald*, David Fagerberg*,
Ralph Nelson, and Glen Pusey (on the porch) at the Iron Hill Museum on 2006 Sept 07.
* = the full route AMtY marchers.
For the border ceremony Mayor Joseph L. Fisona of Elkton MD accepted the Lamp of Liberty
from Mayor Vance Funk of Newark DE, aided by New Castle County (DE) Council Chair Paul G. Clark.
This lamp is the National Park Service's logo for the 225th Anniversary of the American Revolution
and the ceremony honors the historic and contemporary interstate cooperation that symbolizes
our nation's commitment to cooperation and mutual assistance rather than isolationism.
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Lee Jennings (State Parks Historian for Delaware)
often portrays Capt. Robert Kirkwood, of the Delaware Continentals. He spoke about what the area looked like in 1781, when the area had been clearcut to use the trees to make charcoal for the ironmaking business that was based on the mines at Iron Hill. He also noted the dam, lumber mill, and flour mill at Cooch's Bridge. |
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The W3R®-US flag and a flag of one of the
French Regiments (the Royal Deux Ponts)
were passed from the Delaware Continental guide to the Maryland Continental guides
After the ceremony the marchers went down the Old Baltimore Pike and into Elkton MD.
[Phil Shank and Bill Voigt -- re-enactors of the Maryland Continental Regiment
-- as well as Mike Chuckta marched today. Ralph Nelson marched about 2 of the 6 miles.]