Donations Sought To Help Washington Cross The Delaware

WASHINGTON CROSSING, PA — The Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund is hoping to
take this year’s Christmas Crossing Reenactment Appeal across the finish line.

The fund is offering to match up to $1,000 on donations made between now and December 31.

“We are still $7,500 away from our goal of raising $25,000 to fund the annual Christmas Crossing Reenactment,” said Jennifer Martin, the executive director of the Friends of Washington Crossing. “We hope that the public will consider a tax-deductible donation to the Friends of Washington Crossing Park in support of this important event.”

Donations will go toward purchasing period clothing, equipment and tent rentals, sound production, and food for the volunteer re-enactors who make it all happen on Christmas Day.

Martin can't say enough about the generosity of the Epstein Foundation and challenges the public to step up to help meet the challenge.

“It’s become a wonderful community tradition and something that is certainly worth investing in,” said Martin. “Plus it tells an important story in our history. This was the turning point of the American Revolution. And it happened right here in our community.”

On December 12, the Friends held a dress rehearsal for this year’s Crossing, which Martin termed “a huge success!

“The river level was just right, and the weather (mostly) cooperated with us – our guest narrator quipped that the rain and chill was ‘historically accurate,’” said Martin.

In all, 287 re-enactors and more than 2,500 spectators participated in the rehearsal as General George Washington mustered the troops on the banks of the Delaware and then boarded three Durham boats for the journey across the river.

And they will do it all again - hopefully without the rain - on Christmas Day, Sunday, Dec. 25. This year will mark the 70th Crossing.

On Christmas Day, 300 re-enactors will participate in the pageantry of the first crossing in 1776. The day’s events typically garner worldwide press coverage appearing in newspapers and in broadcast reports around the world.

The event is free and open to the public thanks to the annual appeal. The crossing will take place around 1 p.m.

“The Christmas Crossing has become a holiday tradition for a lot of people,” said Martin. “Typically we have between 5,000 and 10,000 people on Christmas Day.”

Visitors are encouraged to arrive early for the best viewing of the event.

You can donate online or discuss additional options with Jennifer Martin, Executive Director of the Friends of Washington Crossing Park, at 215-493-4076.