August 21 & 24, 2024 - Lyons, NY - This hands-on immersion into the Continental Army was great fun and solid learning for students and adults on two beautiful days in August.  We hosted three 2-hour sessions for the community to experience a day in the life of a soldier from the Revolutionary War. From getting a 3-corner hat at the initial muster to eating hard tack and “firing” muskets, these “soldiers” got to learn through action.

Chris Blomgren of Historic Pursuits was our host and program director. He brought in all the equipment needed to outfit the army, and he taught them useful skills such as how to handle their firearms (rubber band muskets) safely, how to march, how to start a fire with flint and steel, and how to write with a quill pen and ink. We also invited the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Nancy Karasinki, and Daughters of the Union of Civil War Veterans (DUCWV), Susan Berardi, to show our modern day participants how to build a family tree that might reveal a Rev War or Civil War family member, and why it is important to know your ancestry. Our own patriot “Doc” Joel Emerson of Newark was also present to perform regular “amputations” and consult on other aliments that soldiers would be faced with.

The Towpath Volunteer Fife and Drum Corp also lead the group in marching around the grounds, thanks to Paul and Debbie Wilson and the loyal crew of drummers and fifers.  All this is actually in preparations for a much bigger continental celebration in 2026 as we plan our commemoration of the 250th anniversary of our nation. Stay tuned Patriots. ###