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Friday, October 19, 2012

Yorktown Day, 2012

Yorktown Victory Monument from a distance.


Every year, near where I live, the Yorktown Battlefield & Yorktown Victory Center celebrates the anniversary of the last great American Revolution victory.  This year it is 231 years since the defeat of the British at Yorktown.  I sure wish the local schools allowed our children out for the parade tomorrow.  There is also a ceremony this Friday, October 19, for Yorktown Day.  As usual, there are also programs and tours on Saturday and Sunday, October 20 and 21, at Yorktown Battlefield and the Yorktown Victory Center.

Liberty atop the Yorktown Victory monument.
The American and French armies were victorious in 1781, after a pounding nine-day ordeal.   Cornwallis surrendered the British army of over 8,000 soldiers and sailor. Lord Charles Cornwallis's defeat was the last major event for the military during the the American Revolution.
Yorktown day events.

We have a wreath-laying memorial which has continued since 1922.  A parade steps at 10:30 a.m. down Main Street past the Victory Monument.  
This wreath is from nearby Yorktown National Cemetary














Read more (click here) about this wonderful annual even recognizing our patriot's.  At least one of my Rousch ancestors witnessed the surrender at Yorktown, which is pretty neat. (I sometimes wonder if any of my British ancestors might have been fighting on the other side!)


Here is the weekend schedule of events and don’t miss having some of the Brunswick stew that is offered annually.   http://www.historyisfun.org/Yorktown-Victory-Weekend-Schedule.htm
They have great demonstrations.


The Victory Center at Yorktown has some really interesting artifacts, e.g., George Washington's canopy tent and a re-created French ship interior.  (I love their store at the national park!)  They have a movie theater inside and a nice American Revolution movie about the Yorktown siege.

Question:  Have you been to the Yorktown National Park?  Did you know it was listed in the National Parks Best of book as one of the top American Revolution parks to visit? 

Giveaway: A Little Colonial Girl Paper Doll Dover activity book and postcards and note cards from Yorktown, Virginia. For CQ Followers from USA only. Put CQ on your comment.  

26 comments:

  1. Sounds like a fantastic celebration. I thoroughly enjoyed my visit to the Yorktown Victory Center with you last year. I felt as though I could have stayed there for hours, though I think we were!! I was impressed by Clark's fascination with it, too. He is obviously a history lover like him mom.

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    1. Weather is not cooperating today, Carla, but I am going to go down there this afternoon to get some pictures. It is raining off and on and overcast.

      We loved having you visit! I was just looking at pics from that last night! Yes, he is a history buff--perfect 600 score on his SOL last year for history!

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    2. I enjoy looking at my pics often, too. Research trip photos are great to use in our posts here at CQ. Did you take all of these yourself? Nice! I hope the weather cooperates for you all this weekend. Too bad Clark had to miss the parade. That is amazing that he got a perfect score on his history section of SOL! Huzzah, Clark! And to you, too, Mom!

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    3. Oh what a supreme compliment coming from you, CARLA because YES, I did take all those pics myself!!! Yay me, lol! I pray we get good weather for this, too. I am proud of my boy!

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  2. We loved our visit to Yorktown. It was several years ago and we took our three children. We were homeschooling at the time and it was a great lesson opportunity.

    Jeanne
    jeanne.doyon@gmail.com

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    1. It is great living here, Jeanne! This is our 13th year in Yorktown. So much history right nearby!

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  3. I love Yorktown and the Victory Center, thanks to you taking me there, Carrie. What a thrill it was to stand under the very tent that George Washington used! I wonder if he used the tent at Princeton when my ancestor, Colonel John Kelly, fought at that battle? My husband and I will have to come to Yorktown this weekend if we can manage it. Thanks so much for the fine articles at CQ. I always learn something new each time I visit the website.

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    1. CYNTHIA, I LOVED taking you there! We were like two little school girls, lol, giggling in there and having fun and checking everything out!!! Hope you can swing down here!
      Oh, and I am hoping you are almost ready to come on board with CACW. Big hugs!

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  4. Great post, Carrie. I'm glad the day turned sunny and mild. It's always fun to visit Yorktown.

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    1. JANET, by the time I could leave, today's events were over. Will try for tomorrow or next day. Still lots of fun to come!

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  5. Hey Carrie! I've never been to Yorktown, but it sounds awesome. I am surprised the schools aren't letting the kids out, so that they can enjoy this event.
    I've just recently gotten into history, so I still feel a bit out of place. But, thanks to some wonderful authors out there, I am learning a lot.
    Have a great time!
    Oh, am I an official CQ follower? Do I have to sign up, or did I already? Anyway, you said to put CQ on the comment, so CQ. :)
    debsbunch5@jesusanswers.com

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    1. LOL DEBBIE, do you follow us over in that little Blogger follow thingy or the Facebook Networked followers thingy?

      I will count you even if you aren't because we love you here!!!

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    2. Thanks, your a sweetie! I will look into that Blogger thingy and the Facebook Networked followers thing. ;)

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    3. Okay, NOW I am officially following this blog and that Facebook Networked thingy. ;)

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    4. LOL, great Debbie! Glad you found the Follower buttons! We are glad to count you in our numbers.

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  6. Hi Carrie,

    This event must of been thrilling I'm happy you got to go. It's a shame they didn't let the kids enjoy this event.
    I'm puting the Q on my comment like you asked. God bless you dear and thank you for blessing every one with your story.
    anchored@swbell.net
    Sandi

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    1. SANDI, I wish the kids could be released from school. It is absurd that we live in such a historic area and they don't bring the York county kids to the event!!!

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  7. Yorktown so inviting. would love to win. thanks so much for doing this,

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  8. I’ve never been to Yorktown, though it is on my list of places to explore. But I have visited places like Camden, Kings Mountain, Walnut Grove Plantation, and Cowpens, SC. I’ve found myself standing on those fields of conflict breathing in the acrid smell of gunpowder and listening to the clink of metal and the squeak of leather as the “combatants” made their way back to their encampments. Often, while watching the haze of smoke billow down to the pristine ground, I have imagined how different the real battlefields must have looked, strewn with the bodies and stained with the blood of men and women so passionate about their cause that they left their homes, endured unimaginable hardships and deprivation, and who stood toe-to-toe with their enemies and face-to-face with death. Standing on such hallowed ground, sometimes I was moved to pray. On other occasions I remained quiet and wondered, would I have had their courage?

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    1. SUSAN, that is exactly how I felt the last time I was there for the big reenactment on a Yorktown day, with my son. I thought--how could I deal with my grown son being out there fighting. Yet my ancestor Susanne had nine sons fighting, two of whom were at Yorktown battle field!

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  9. Oh how I wish I were near there. Thanks for the post and the links.

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    1. I wish you were, too, Judith! Beautiful day for it today.

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    2. JUDITH, you are the winner of this contest! I am a little late in drawing--thought I'd already done so, ACK! Will send you an email! Blessings and congrats!

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  10. thanks for the chance to win the activity book and post cards
    ABreading4fun [at] gmail [dot] com

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  11. I have never been to Yorktown but it sounds like a wonderful place to go and would love to see it some day. What a wonderful giveaway you are offering. I loved paper dolls when I was a kid.

    Blessings,
    Jo
    azladijo(at)aol(dot)com

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