I steadied the weapon against my shoulder, preparing to fire on the order from my commanding officer. The brutal heat of the summer day stifled any relaxation in the surrounding ranks of seasoned soldiers and an absolute silence enshrouded our besieged regiment. At the precise moment that Captain Martin discovered fear in the eyes of the opposing soldiers in the British garrison, he bellowed "Fire!"

As gunpowder exploded from the cool steel barrel in my grasp, a lead projectile pierced the thick, humid atmosphere and lodged into the shoulder of an enemy two hundred yards from my position. Our assault had disrupted the order of the garrisoned forces; now was the time to strike with the unforgiving force of the bayonet!

The fight for liberty had occupied seven months of my life thus far and I would not let the British soldiers win the day again. With our steel fixtures in place, our regiment stared down the enemy forces with the animosity built from watching our homes and families destroyed by war.

Then, Captain Martin released the command "Charge!' We became an enraged swarm of malicious wasps, decimating all opposing troops in our path. We won the day, reclaiming the British fort as our own.

Over the summer, I had the amazing opportunity to participate in the Junior Interpreter Program at the American Village in Montevallo, Alabama. As an interpreter, I volunteered to spend several days of each week in the past; more precisely, I was given the opportunity to convince visiting children and adults that history is not only an extensive collection of written narratives, but also a living depiction of the events shaping our present and future.

While marching with third graders on the path to battle, I often became lost in the sheer excitement of the situation. For a brief moment, the flow of time stopped completely. I could look into the children's eyes and observe fear and apprehension as though the impending military engagement posed a serious threat to their lives. In many cases, this was the first time that they were exposed to living history. Younger students realized that Revolutionary soldiers sacrificed their livelihood for a cause important to their hearts; older students were able to more fully develop their understanding of American government. At the same time that students learned about the dynamic nature of history, I also uncovered my understanding of the necessity for an unwavering commitment to the patriotic foundations of our nation.

As a nation, we revel in the characterization of ourselves as "patriots" and include the term in many facets of our everyday lives. We label our weapons of war as "patriot missiles" and routinely cite the blessings of patriotism in conversations with our families and neighbors. Even professional sports teams are identified as the defenders of liberty when the "New England Patriots" storm a grassy field for the heat of gridiron combat. Yet, at some point in the last two hundred and twenty seven years of our existence as a nation, we have collectively forgotten that patriotism was not always outwardly displayed or promoted.

In the early days of our nation, those individuals we now identify as patriots also held another powerful name: traitors. The fury and tumultuous reign of the British sovereign hastened the development of widespread patriotism in our country, but the earliest protectors of the flame of American liberty did not have the protection of extensive popular support. To the contrary, the initial patriots overcame both their own doubts about the worth of a commitment to this new country and the apprehension of their fellow colonists. They shared a belief that there were ideals of living in concert with a new kind of government, and these ideals were worth dying for.

At that point in history, patriotism was a dream for the future. Now, we can maintain that dream through constant vigilance in keeping a patriotic vision in our own lives, and by understanding the values reflected in our system of government.

As a participant in the reenacted past, I realized that history can be, and should be, educational and enjoyable. History experienced through reenactment provides the opportunity to understand on almost a gut level the tremendous sacrifices and struggles patriots made in the past so that Americans can live comfortably in the present.

By reminding others about our history, and perhaps inspiring greater appreciation of and commitment to America's promises to keep, I feel that I am able to influence the future of the United States.

Links to other pages at PeprallyUSA.com

 Peprallyusa.com Home     Alabama Home    Other States   How You Can Help Support Our Heroes  Jobs at PeprallyUSA.com   Win!Win! CONTESTS!