Public Events and Commemorations 
for the W3R^® during 2011

2011-01-10:   W3R®-US Chair Sallie deBarcza named Nicole Yancey to be the W3R®-US' Liaison with the French Community. Nicole has served as chair of the W3R®-VA, Recording Secretary for the W3R®-US, and chair of the Atlantic Committee, which is working with W3R affiliates in the U.S and France to develop commemorations, monuments, and interpretive markers for the naval component of French aid to the U.S. struggle for independence. In 2008 Nicole was inducted into the French Legion of Honor in recognition for her decades-long service to France -- strengthening relations with the United States through working over twenty years with the French Consulate, coordinating the effort to provide a memorial at Yorktown, Virginia, listing the French soldiers and sailors killed in action as allies during the American Revolution, and making many contributions to the U.S. National Park Service, such as the American Revolution Bicentennial Committee.

Former Chair Kim Burdick Creates Facebook site for the W3R®-US 2011-01-27 An extensive [*] FaceBook page on the W3R®-US was created by Kim Burdick (2008-09 chair of the W3R®-US). Members of Facebook have added their own comments and photos. This site now has hundreds of photos of activities that the W3R®-US and its state chapters and affiliates have supported or coordinated during the past decade.

2011-02-05 (Saturday) Princeton NJ:   The Annual Meeting of the W3R®-NJ featured breakfast at the Nassau Club and a presentation "Where was the Battle of Princeton Really Fought?", by W3R Historian Robert A. Selig, PhD. He and the W3R®-NJ officers elected for 2011-2 are shown below. Left to right: Treasurer Cathy Faulks, Dr. Selig, Chairman Sallie T. de Barcza, Corresponding Secretary Thomas D'Amico, Recording Secretary Mary Swarbrick [photo courtesy of G. Chernikova]

2011-02 The National Park Service published a summary of the four NPS / W3R®-US Strategic Planning Meetings held in 2010. This booklet provides concise draft statements of the [*] Mission, Vision, Themes, and Objectives of the WRRR-NHT [PDF]

2011-02-24 (Thursday)   African American Soldiers in the American Revolution by Dr. Robert A. Selig, historical consultant for the WRRR-NHT. from 5:30 to 7:30 PM at the Philadelphia Waterworks Interpretive Center. Many people with African ancestry fought for U.S. independence -- farmers and tradesman, slaves and freedmen, those who were born (and later died) in the U.S. and those who came (and died here in battle or left) as part of the French army under General Rochambeau. Sometimes welcomed into the ranks and sometimes expelled due to racial prejudice, they were a significant fraction of the Continental Army and played a significant role in feeding, clothing, and supplying that army. For details see the attached flyer [PDF]

2011-03-05 (Saturday) Cape Canaveral FL:   The 228th anniversary of the Last Naval Battle of the American Revolution was commemorated with a parade involving 22 marching units, a speech by Tim McGrath, and the presentation of commemorative wreaths. McGrath (shown at left) is the author of a recently-published book, John Barry: an American Hero in the Age of Sail (Westholme Publishing). The commemoration was organized by the Brevard Chapter of the Florida Society, Sons of the American Revolution.         Tim McGrath [photos courtesy of L. Canavan] HISTORY: On March 10, 1783, Capt. John Barry was in command of the 36-gun U.S. frigate Alliance guarding the Duc de Luzerne, whose cargo included 72,000 Spanish milled dollars (French foreign aid to the U.S. government). Two British frigates spotted and chased the American vessels. The 32-gun Alarm abandoned the chase after sighting an approaching French 64-gun ship-of-the-line, the Triton. The Alliance exchanged broadsides with the 28-gun Sybil, which broke off the engagement after suffering significant damage. John Stinson (L) of the Florida Society SAR carried the French national flag of 1783. Ralph Nelson (R) was parade commander and spoke briefly about the W3R®-US.

W3R®-US Member donates French Alliance Collection to the SAR   2011-03-11 John Welsh of Olympia, Washington, donated to the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution his French Alliance Collection. The collection celebrates the French involvement in the American Revolution. Mostly French in origin, the collection consists of engravings, maps, letters, and medals. These pieces date from 1760 – 1820. A letter signed by Rochambeau, a letter signed by Louis XVI, and a late 18th century Order of St. Esprit Cross are highlights of the collection. Mr. Welsh, who often portrays French General Rochambeau, is a Director of the W3R®-US and a member of the SAR. A large portion of the collection will be displayed in the Mary and James Craik Special Collections Room in the new SAR Genealogical Research Library. This special collections room is designed to exhibit the Dr. James Craik miniature and other significant SAR artifacts. It was named for the donors of the Dr. James Craik miniature done by Charles Willson Peale during the winter of Valley Forge. The new SAR library is located at 809 West Main St. in Louisville, Kentucky. For more information about the library see library.sar.org.

March 30, 2011, was the Second Anniversary of the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route as a National Historic Trail.

2011-03-31 (Thursday) at 7 PM in Charlottesville VA:   Nicole Yancey, Honorary French Consul and chair of the W3R®-VA spoke to L'Alliance Française de Charlottesville (in French and English) on Tracing the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route in the Charlottesville Area. The talk -- on the third floor of the Municipal Arts Center, 1119 5th Street Ext. SW -- was followed by a wine and cheese reception.

2011-04-16 (Saturday) Princeton NJ:   The National Washington-Rochamebau Revolutionary Route Association, Inc., held its Eighth Annual Membership Meeting and Board of Directors Meeting at the Nassau Club. Dr. Robertt A. Selig gave a presentation on the Continental Army service of soldiers with African ancestry from Bunker Hill to Yorktown. [photos courtesy of R. Nelson] Sallie de Barcza and a W3R banner Serge Gabriel (CT) and Joe DiBello (NPS) Dr. Robert A.Selig and Lanny Patten (PA) Jim Johnson (NY), Jean Hultgren (NJ), and Ursula Reed (PA) Damon Rodnak and David Fagerberg (The Marchers)

2011-05-01: Valley Forge PA at 2 PM   Washington Memorial Chapel at Valley Forge commemorates every year the Treaty of Alliance with France and the troops who fell in combat. This year Lieutenant Colonel Jerome Guyon, a representative of the Ambassador of France, gave the address. Laying a wreath at the French monument at Valley Forge [photo courtesy of G. Chernikova] History: Representatives of the French and American governments signed a Treaty of Amity and Commerce and a Treaty of Alliance on February 6, 1778. When word of the Alliance and its ratification by the Continental Congress reached Valley Forge in early May 1778; General George Washington issued the following General Order: It having pleased the Almighty Ruler of the universe to defend the course of the United States, and finally raise up a powerful friend among the princes of the earth, to establish our Liberty and Independence upon a lasting foundation, it becomes us to set apart a day for gratefully acknowledging the Divine goodness, and celebrating the important event which we owe to His Divine interposition.

2011-05-07 (Saturday) Pensacola FL:   The 230th anniversary of the Siege and Battle of Pensacola was commemorated at 9 AM at Fort George in downtown Pensacola (Palafox and La Rua Streets). There was a speaker, wreath-laying by descendants of Revolutionary War patriots, and a musket salute. To avoid a conflict with the centennial celebration of U.S. naval aviation the Pensacola Historical Society moved the date of its historical re-enactment of the Battle of Pensacola to June 3rd and 4th. Spanish Field Marshall Bernardo de Galvez commanded a force of several Spanish regiments and a French brigade. This siege and battle took place over nine weeks. The climactic moment came on May 8, 1781, when Spanish fire blew up the powder magazine in the Queen's Redoubt Following the battle the French units joined the Caribbean French fleet under Admiral deGrasse, which sailed north to participate in the siege and victory at Yorktown VA. History of the siege [Little Town Mart] History of the siege [Explore Southern History]

2011-05-15 to 19 (Sunday to Thursday) Abingdon VA: The 13th National Trails System Conference, organized by the Partnership for the National Trails System (PNTS). See The PNTS website

2011-05-29 (Sunday) at 2PM in Saint Louis MO: The Committee for the Battle of Fort San Carlos is sponsoring a public presentation on French Colonialism in the St. Louis MO area in 1780 and before, by Meredith Hawkins, Principal Investigator for the Archaeological Research Center. at the Missouri History Museum, located at Lindell and DeBaliviere in Forest Park, with plenty of free parking. Further Information on battle and commemoration [PDF]

2011-06-04 to 05: Nationwide! National Trails Day is an opportunity to hold a public "fresh-air" event along or near the WRRR-NHT: Take a Scout group on a hike along a safe-to-walk section of the trail or a nearby rural road. Organize a group bike ride from one French campsite to the next and back (round trip 28 miles or 47 km). Hire a small tour boat to follow the water route from Trenton to Philadelphia, Philadelphia to Wilmington, Elkton to Annapolis, or other segments along the way to Jamestown VA. Have a family picnic in a park near the route and discuss how your picnic differs from the lunch stops experienced by French and U.S. soldiers as they marched south in the summer of 1781 -- both in terms of the food, the sanitation, and the reasons for being here for lunch rather than at home.

2011-06-04 to 05 (Friday and Saturday) Pensacola FL: The Pensacola Historical Society is hosting a Friday lecture by Hector Diaz -- a noted re-enactor and educator -- and a Saturday re-enactment of the Siege and Battle of Pensacola. See www.historicpensacola.org The website has no information about the location ot times of the lecture and re-enactment, so call Jim McMillen, Living History Coordinator, at (850)-595-5985, ext. 112.

2011-06-16 to 18 (Friday-Saturday) Boston MA to Providence RI:   The MA-RI Bicycle Route Exploration Team is working in partnership with the WRRR Cycling Expedition (see below) -- to scout several historical sites and existing bicycling routes on or near the historic W3R route between Boston and Providence. Our goal is to produce bicycle trail cue sheets with directions to and descriptions of nearby WRRR-related historic sites. For Massachusetts we selected a route that included several existing bicycle trails near the WRRR-NHT in the Boston-to-Providence corridor. On June 16 -- due to inclement weather -- we did not ride the initial section starting from the Long Wharf in Boston to Roxbury and we did not ride final section along the Blackstone River Bikeway from Franklin MA into Pawtucket and Providence RI. We biked the central section along the SW Corridor bikeway and then Washington St to Dedham and parallel streets to King Philip Regional HS in Wrentham MA Bike Track for June 16 On June 17 we participated in Bike Friday in Government Square and distributed informational flyers about the W3R®-US and Bill Poindexter's full-trail ride, which starts on July 1. For Rhode Island we selected a route that includes several existing bicycle trails near the WRRR-NHT in the Newport-to-Providence corridor. Due to time constraints we did not ride the section from Newport to Bristol. After the Bike Friday event we transported the bicycles through intermittent rain showers to Bristol RI and rode the East Bay Bike Path 14.5 miles north to India Point Park in Providence, with a short side trip (not shown in the track) into Colts Neck State park to see the Coggeshall Farm, which is operated as an 18th-century homestead. The East Bay Trail is essentially flat except at the northern end. There are many fine views of the bay. The northern end is very industrial. Bike Track for June 17 Then we drove home. On June 18 we drove to India Point Park in Providence, Rhode Island, to participate in a sendoff ceremony at 10 AM for the Marchers at the start of their 680-mile march south. The Marchers consisted of two experienced re-enactors -- Damon Rodnac (left) and David Fagerburg (right) -- and six youth from Americorps (center). The three cyclists are in the back row             We then rode city streets and the Washington Bike Route to the Joy Homestead in Cranston RI, where curator Lydia Rapoza and Allan Fung, the mayor of Cranston, welcomed us.             After a fine lunch -- including Rochambeau wine from the Newport Vineyards -- we greeted the Marchers as they arrived at about 2 PM. Lydia was a genial hostess, providing a hearty dinner for the Marchers. Bike Track for June 18

2011-06-18 (Saturday) Providence RI:   The 2011 March to Yorktown, Part 1 On the 230th anniversary of the original allied march in 1781 -- eight marchers started out to walk 200 miles of the WRRR-NHT trail from India Point in Providence RI through RI and CT to Bedford NY. The Marchers consisted of two experienced re-enactors -- Damon Rodnac and David Fagerburg -- and six youth from Americorps. See The Marchers' Facebook page for a photo-blog of Part 1. Reports on the activities of the Marchers through 2010-10-24 are shown below in boxes with this background color and each box contains the icon shown at right above. The Marchers ended this first day of the trek at the Joy Homestead, 156 Scituate Ave, Cranston RI. Here they met Cranston Mayor Alan Fung and re-enactors of George Washington and the French Bourbonnaise Regiment. They participated in the annual Rochambeau Strawberry Biscuit Tea and camped overnight. From this building exactly 230 years ago the Joy family witnessed the French army led by General Rochambeau marching by on the way to New York and then Yorktown.

2011-06-22: Bolton CT The Marchers camped overnight here. 2011-06-23: Plainfield CT -- The Norwich Bulletin article carried an article on this. Soon after this Damon Rodnac's condition forced her to withdraw continuing the march with a second Americorps group. She passed away in October (see memorial below).

2011-07-01 (Friday) Newport RI:   Bill Poindexter started from Newport RI today on the Cycling WRRR Expedition, which he created as a community effort to explore the entire National Historic Trail by bicycle. Experienced cyclists will join him in each state along the way to provide local bike trail and traffic information. His mission was to map out and promote the safest bike route for future users of the trail. The Fox news channel posted an interview of Bill before the trip. Bill wanted to inspire bike shops, bike clubs, and individual cyclists who live on or close to the WRRR-NHT to cycle along the trail. Starting at 10 AM on July 1 at the Rochambeau Statue in Newport RI Bill traveled through Providence to the Joy Homestead in Cranston, where he stayed for two nights. A business crisis required that he return home on July 4. He later planned to continue his exploration of feasible cycling routes along the WRRR in 2013. See the Cycling WRRR Expedition Blog for his photo-report of his trip through Rhode Island.

2011-07-02 Mexico City, Mexico --   On this date 235 years ago the Continental Congress voted to break ties with Great Britain. Greg Ritchie, of Mexico City's radio station 88.9, interviewed Dr. Robert A. Selig about the International Aspects of the American War for Independence. Listen to what Dr. Selig said..

2011-07-04 New Castle DE: The W3R®-DE joined with the Delaware Society SAR to plan participation in LET FREEDOM RING, a coordinated nation-wide bell-ringing. After a commemoration program in the Immanuel Episcopal Church on the Green in historic New Castle DE thirteen children, representing the thirteen original colonies, tolled the church bell, starting at 2:00 PM EDT. This year over 100,000 people participated in programs reaching from Valley Forge to Pearl Harbor.

2011-07-06 Valley Forge PA:   A bronze bust of General Louis le Begue Duportail, sculpted and cast in France in 2011, was unveiled at Valley Forge National Historic Park Visiter Center The work of fine art is a gift from the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) -- in particular of its Pennsylvania Society, Philadelphia Continental Chapter -- and the SAR Society in France. bust of General Duportail, by Michel Gillet photo courtesy of Lanny R. Patten General Louis Duportail (1743-1801), a Frenchman, was a member of George Washington's staff (1777-1781) in command of military engineers, who planned and built defenses, fortifications, and armaments. He designed the defenses at Valley Forge -- whose plans and drawings have been preserved -- participated in defenses at West Point, and served faithfully through to Yorktown as a valued advisor to Washington. He is considered a founder of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and was promoted to Major General in the Continental Army. The sculpture by Michel Gillet was cast in limited edition by Susse Fondere, the oldest fine art foundry in France. The sculpture is based on a portrait (by Charles Wilson Peale) now at the Second Bank Gallery in Philadelphia. The Duportail House in Chesterbrook PA is close to Valley Forge. It served as Duportail's quarters during 1777-78 and is today on the National Register of Historic Places.

2011-07-14 Philadelphia PA:   The 2011 March to Yorktown, Part 2: During July to October the Marchers who walked the entire route in 2006 participated in commemorative events in all nine states (plus DC) along the WRRR-NHT. At each event Joe DiBello, the National Park Service's Superintendent for the WRRR-NHT presented a W3R®-US banner to a Park Service or state official. Reports on the activities of the Marchers through 2010-10-24 are shown below in boxes with this background color and each box contains the marching icon shown at right above.< For Bastille Day the W3R®-PA sponsored the dedication of the WRRR-NHT in Philadelphia on the east bank of the Schuylkill River, next to the Market Street bridge. After this the group paraded to the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center to see the video, Our National Heritage: The Revolutionary River

On July 13 the Philadelphia Inquirer published an editorial to bring this event and the larger purpose of the WRRR-NHT to the attention of the public. Posted with permission of the Philadelphia Inquirer. Distinguished author David McCullough wrote an OP-ED column on the occasion of Bastille Day, elegantly expressing the many ways that France has supported liberty and enriched our lives since 1775. Vive la Similarité [New York Times]

Celebration of the Revolutionary River -- July 14, 2011 based on an Email from Ursula Reed, W3R®-US Director Color guard of the Philadelphia Chapter SAR. Note banner at left. [Photos courtesy of Torben Jenk and Kim Burdick.] As you can see in the pictures, the river, Schuylkill Banks, and city architecture looks great. It was a relatively cool day at 85*F. It was good that we didn't do it the following Thursday with the 115*F heat index! The W3R®-US banners look beautiful -- Joe Syrnick and I worked with the Philadelphia Streets Department for two days to hang them. Some people are following the W3R®-US banners o the FWWIC and going in to inquire about National Historic Trail. Fr. Dan Ruff offered the Invocation and (later in the program) the Benediction in French. National Park Service Superintendents Joe DiBello (WRRR-NHT) and Cynthia MacCleod (Independence Hall Historic Park) made brief remarks. INHP's presence at both Market Street and Schuylkill Banks and the Fairmount Water Works Interpretive Center (FWWIC) was significant. It is wonderful to now have the National Park Service as a partner for the WRRR National Historic Trail that crosses the Schuylkill River. Many members, affiliates, and friends of the W3R®-US brought greetings Representatives of elected officials included Curtis Gregory from the Philadelphia Mayor's office, State Representative Babette Josephs, and aides representing both Senator Casey and Congresswoman Allyson Schwartz -- who presented a beautiful letter to Joe DiBello. Michael Scullin, Honorary French Consul (and a W3R®-PA board member) and the elected officials unveiled the marker with Joe Syrnick of Schuylkill Banks. Vive la France! The new interpretive marker for the river. W3R®-PA board member Denise Dennis gave a brief summary of her heritage and French experiences. WRRR historian Dr. Robert A. Selig gave a short talk on the amazing French connection to our WRRR history -- especially on Bastille Day. Cinda Waldbusser from the National Parks Conservation Association gave closing remarks. We look forward to working with the NPCA as we march forward. The group welcomed Michael Fitzgerald, director for the film Our National Heritage: The Revolutionary River Re-enactors Joe Becton as 1st RI Regiment and Noah Lewis as Continental Army's Ned Hector participated at both the Market Street and FWWIC events. Major Robert Rogers was also present in Revolutionary War uniform -- portrayed by Mike Fitzgerald, who led the 730-mile America's March to Yorktown in 2006. Mike directed the filming of "Our National Heritage: The Revolutionary River" documentary film, which he produced with Telemark Films for the Schulykill River Historical Association and the FWWIC. This film was shown at the FWWIC after the marker unveiling. Many members, affiliates, and friends of the W3R®-US brought greetings Pierre Lefebvre (Union des Francais de L'Etranger Philadelphie) and Dr. Robert A. Selig (WRRR Historian) joined the celebration. Many W3R®-US banners now mark that 1781 American Revolution campsite, which extended along the Schuylkill River bank from Chestnut Street up to the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Most participants walked a mile from that campsite to the FWWIC. Kim Burdick, former chair of the W3R®-US, joined us for the film showing. W3R®-PA board member Patty Coyne helped with the invitations, press releases and organizing the SAR Color Guard and the set-up on Schuylkill Banks that day. Samantha Driscoll (NPS) was most helpful with the design of the invitations and programs and Jane with the communications. Karen Young and her outstanding staff were most gracious hosts at the FWWIC. Pierre LeFebvre and Georges Perrier donated delicious pates and exquisite sweets for the reception at the FWWIC. Torben Jenk helped throughout this effort and was our photographer. All the major network stations plus radio and TV from WHYY provided media coverage. The Philadelphia Inquirer published a very supportive and encouraging editorial, "Happy Trails", on July 13. Amy Baxter Bellamy of the McNeil Center for Early American Cultures sent information about the WRRR-NHT trail dedication to over 400 historians at the Society for Historians of the Early American Republic (SHEAR) conference then being held in Philadelphia. They also got copies of that editorial and some came to see the Revolutionary River film. So the future for heritage tourism in Philadelphia PA and along the Schuylkill looks bright!

2011-08-07 Dobbs Ferry NY:   The town celebrated the 6th Annual Road to Freedom Day at 1 PM in Gould Park with a salute to the 13 states, a short walk along the route of the Continental Army as it marched for Yorktown in 1781. At 2 PM there was a cannon display, a fiddler-story teller, and refreshments.

[photo courtesy of Ursula Reed]
The Marchers: Damon Rodnac, Rose Morin, David Fagerberg, David Holloway, and Mike Fitzgerald.

2011-08- 27 to 29: Bolton CT   The British did not attack the French army columns as they marched through Connecticut toward New York in the summer of 1781, but the threat was significant. David Loda organized a (somewhat smaller-scale) simulation of such an attack. The event was held in Bolton on August 27-28 of 2011.

Over 400 living historians of 18th century troops, artillerymen, dragoon horsemen, camp followers, craftsmen and merchants converged on the Rose Farm to provide the largest Revolutionary War encampment in Bolton since 1782, with camps from the French, American, British and Spanish armies of the time. Although dampened somewhat(!) by Hurricane Irene, it went very well. The event is described in detail in the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route, National Historic Trail Newsletter No. 70. See index to newsletters There were 18th-century crafts and demonstrations, lectures from experts of the period as well how to preserve and use historic resources today. On Saturday afternoon some 180 troops and six cannon participated in camping, drills, and a major tactical arms demonstration involving coordinated battle formations, musket fire, cannon fire and cavalry actions in period-correct attire. Hurricane Irene caused cancellation of the repeat re-enactment on Sunday. A well-produced and lively video of the camping and camaraderie and dancing that occurred before the battle may be viewed at 2012-08-27 camp video [Youtube, 8.5 minutes] Unlike modern battles where the opponents are hundreds of yards apart, battles with muskets and bayonets were fought by lines of men at close quarter, as shown in these scenes. 2012-08-28 battle video [Youtube, 8.5 minutes] W3R®-US member Lydia Rapoza videotaped a 20-minute video of this celebration [still from video by Lydia Rapoza] Richard Swartwout (above left) was Master of Ceremonies. The W3R®-US, represented by Director Ursula Reed (above right), provided a W3R®-US trail banner which The Marchers presented to the state of Connecticut as part of a joint W3R®-US / The Marchers program to distribute similar banners for festive occasions in each state along the trail. State Representative Pamela Z. Sawyer spoke about the early development of the WRRR-NHT in Connecticut.

[photo courtesy of Mike Fitzgerald]

The Marchers -- the team that walked the entire 680 mile trail in 2006 -- are (left to right in back row above) Richard Swartwout, David Holloway, David Fagerberg, Rose Morin, and Mike Fitzgerald. Yolande Bosman (front row above) brought greetings from the French Embassy.

2011-09-04 (Sunday): Christiana DE   The W3R®-DE's Lafayette Social at the Hale-Byrnes House. featured a small Revolutionary War encampment with The Marchers. [The photos below are courtesy of Kim Burdick.] The dinner party was held on the banks of the White Clay Creek. DE re-enactors and W3R®-DE members with Marcher David Holloway (back-right) Hale-Byrnes Director Kim Burdick with map of the WRRR-NHT.

2011-09-07 (Wednesday): Pencader DE from 7 PM to 9 PM The Fifth Annual Cooch's Bridge Battlefield Memorial Ceremony was held at the Pencader Area Heritage Museum, 2029 Sunset Lake Road, Newark DE. Participants included The Marchers, Jeff Martin (portraying his ancestor General Howe), Delaware RW re-enactor units, Wade Catts (DE RW historian), and color guards from the Newark DE VFW, Delaware City American Legion Post, Delaware Civil Air Patrol, and Delaware Military Academy JROTC.

2011-09-09 (Friday) Perryville MD   The Marchers spoke at Rogers Tavern. Sponsored by the W3R®-MD Samantha Driscoll (NPS) presents a W3R®-US banner to Mayor James Eberhardt [ Photo courtesy of Ursula Reed.]

2011-09-10 to 11 (Sat and Sun) 9 AM to 5 PM at Mount Vernon (President Washington's Home) VA   Mount Vernon held an Alliance for Liberty: Military Encampment In celebration of the 230th anniversary of the historic visit of General Washington and General Rochambeau. The Estate came alive with hundreds of Revolutionary War re-enactors, including General Washington and General Rochambeau. Joe DiBello (NPS) with W3R®-US banner for Mount Vernon [photo courtesy of Ursula Reed.]

The Marchers: Mike Fitzgerald, David Holloway, David Fagerberg,
unknown Americorps marcher, and Damon Rodnac
[photo courtesy of Ursula Reed.]