“Grateful Americans will come to this shrine of quiet valor, this forge of our Republic’s iron core. Valley Forge symbolizes the spirit of sacrifice that made independence possible.”” President Ford, Independence Day 1976

Just one post this week as I am traveling around some patriotic stops on the East Coast. I often say that early retirement is like “kidadulthood”. That is, it gives you the opportunity to revisit things that you enjoyed as a kid with the time, smarts, and money of an adult.

The Bicentennial happened when I was 10 years old in 1976 and I was all in. Our small town in Michigan was decked out in red, white, and blue. My 4th grade teacher taught us about the American Revolution, we did Colonial crafts, made recipes, and saw the Bicentennial Wagon Train come through our County Fairgrounds.

I watched President Ford on TV that day saw him dedicate the new Valley Forge Historical National Park. He went from Washington DC to Valley Forge to Philadelphia to New York that day. I pulled up his Presidential itinerary for that day. He called it “the greatest Fourth of July any of us will ever see”.

It’s been fun this year for me to stop at almost all of those locations. In late, March, my wife and I went to Washington DC for the cherry blossom festival. On that trip, we spent a couple days in colonial, Williamsburg, Jamestown, and Yorktown. I started watching the Ken Burns PBS series about the American Revolution and reading more and more about it.

On this trip, I came to Philadelphia and spent three days in the Independence National Historic Park. I went to theatrical programs inside Independence Hall and Carpenters Hall, where they had actors portraying John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Thomas Jefferson, and others, debating the complicated issues of independence, natural rights, slavery, and religion. I even got to raise the American flag at the Betsy Ross House on the morning of their Flag Day Festival!

I also took the Amtrak train up to New York City and walked through the historic downtown. Near Wall Street is where Washington set up headquarters in the city near Trinity Church, and where Alexander Hamilton is buried today. An old friend and I met up at the Fraunces Tavern – the oldest building in New York City – where Washington frequently and gave his famous farewell address.

The weather for this trip has been absolutely perfect. This morning, I drove my Mustang convertible rental through the Valley Forge National Historic Park. What a great way to see the encampments, earthen forts, and monuments. Later, I’ll be heading to Washington’s Crossing PA, where the Continental Army crossed the Delaware on Christmas Night 1776.

Yesterday, I enjoyed a frosty beverage with a friend who lives near here and we talked about the history of this place. He put together a fascinating presentation on two of his ancestors that served in the Revolutionary War. They participated in/supported the 2nd Dragoons – the horseback light cavalry that served as Washington’s eye’s & ears – spying on the Redcoats.

In between my stops, I’ve also been studying part of my wife’s (and son’s) family history and her ancestors from the Valley Forge area that served in the war. Her 6th Great Grandfather and several of her 6G Uncles. Her 6GG enlisted as a private in the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment in February of 1777. One of her Patriot uncles is buried about 25 yards from Benjamin Franklin (and other “Signers” in Philadelphia.

They say that American history is uncool and overly politicized now, but I’ve really enjoyed these trips. The politics around America 250 were evident in 1976, after all (LINK). Like me, the people that I meet at these stops are interested and moved by what they are learning.

Any “patriotic plans” between now and Independence Day 250? How much do you recall about the 1976 Bicentennial?

Image: (c) MrFireStation; Valley Forge PA