Posted on 12/26/2015 1:55:17 AM PST by afraidfortherepublic
WASHINGTON CROSSING, Pa. - George Washington and his troops have made their annual Christmas Day trip across the Delaware River.
The re-enactors crossed the river between Pennsylvania and New Jersey on a 65-degree day Friday, considerably warmer than the actual crossing which took place on an ice-choked river during a snowstorm.
The annual Christmas tradition drew families and fans of history to both sides of the Delaware River for the 63rd annual re-enactment.
Boats ferried 2,400 soldiers, 200 horses and 18 cannons across the river during the original crossing.Washington's troops marched 8 miles downriver before battling Hessian mercenaries in the streets of Trenton.
Thirty Hessians were killed, and two Continental soldiers froze to death on the march.
(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...
Revolutionary War re-enactor Bill Strunk points his cane towards New Jersey as fog covers the river before the re-enactment of Washington crossing the Delaware River, Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, in Washington Crossing, Pa.
John Godzieba, front center, portraying Gen. George Washington, uses a spy glass to look across the river during a re-enactment of Washington's historic crossing of the Delaware River, Friday, Dec. 25, 2015, in Washington Crossing, Pa.
Apparently this happens annually. We can be ready in 2016 so that anyone who desires can travel to watch this.
FReep Mail me if you want on, or off, this Revolutionary War/George Washington ping list.
Awesome really awesome my ancestor took part in the crossing and the battle.
I’m gland not everybody forgot about it.
I haven’t posted this for awhile here on FR but here is my short essay on the Crossing and Battle of Trenton from a few years ago.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1046553/posts
My heart just weeps to think if that crossing had been prevented there never would have been slavery, all those poor Indians never would have been killed, all those beautiful trees never would have been destroyed, the spotted owl and snail darter would still be alive today, and the buffalo would still be on the prairie.
I feel so guilty that I am a White Christian male in a successful retirement with a good health plan. I pray to the Green Gods and Mother Earth each day that I be struck down.
Does the above pretty much sum up how lefties feel?
I was there yesterday. It was nice.
I kept thinking, when will they demonstrate against this event, a war mongering slave holder in command of teabager rebellion.
I was at Valley Forge several years ago. A Park ranger is sitting in front of Wasingtons house. He’s a Mexican American. We walk up and he welcomes us. He tells me “this is Washington’s house”. Then, with digust, “He kept his slaves in the attic”.
Many of our new immigrants really hate our country.
You’ve been reading The Guardian again! It celebrated Christmas with an sweet essay on American slavery in the Deep South on Christmas!
For me, the most hollowed grounds in America are there.
Tucked way back along the river are the graves of 10 unknown American soldiers who died there. Most likely from exposure before even making the crossing.
They gave all. For an idea of freedom. On a freezing cold Christmas Eve.
How many Americans today could measure up.
To me, the most amazing part of the story was not just that Washington’s men crossed at night in a snowstorm but that they had to march nine miles to attack the Hessians, beat them then marched nine miles BACK to re-cross the Delaware.
Instead of winter garb, Washington and his crew were in their bathing suits. (In other words the temperature was in the 70’s!)
What few are aware of the National Park Service underwent a transformation beginning with the Clinton era.
Many of us know the NPS as having those horseback rangers with a chainsaw in the outback taking care of business, or being very polite to the visitors, giving accurate talks about the park, etc.
Today they are very left oriented, and that park ranger is now a FLETC trained cop that does not care about the outback. Those fun evening programs are propaganda filled and many of them now see the NPS mission as protecting the wildlife from people and really don’t want people around.
One of my personal experiences was listening to a ranger talk about prairie dogs, saying there were just a few acres of them in the US and need to be protected. She said in their park there were only 2 acres of them. Many of us just walked out, for if you are a farmer, you know what an acre is as well as how badly they infest pastures. She told outright lies.
Rubio has one good point, he wants the NPS to be privatized.
The husband and I attended the Christmas Day crossing about 4 years ago. Surprisingly large turnout. It was cold and muddy, but I am glad we went. Unfortunately, they could not cross because the conditions were deemed to dangerous. But there was much pageantry as the troops marched toward the river and boarded the boats. They have General Washington— and some others — equipped with microphones, so you can hear his address to the troops and some conversations.
It is well worth the trip, IMHO. I wanted to go again this year, but the DH wasn’t down with it.
If you want to end up in Camden, then you start rowing near Trenton.(from the Pennsylvania side of course).
Outstanding. This essay should be posted twice a year — once on Christmas and again on the 4th of July!
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1046553/posts
to dangerous = too dangerous
Thats neat..
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
