Visitors Experience The Revolution At Washington Crossing Fourth

UPPER MAKEFIELD >> The banks of the Delaware River exploded with the sights and sounds of the Fourth of July on Monday.

From late morning into the afternoon, a crowd numbering in the hundreds watched spinning and weaving demonstrations, learned wool washing and Colonial medicine and played games from the 1700s.

Artillery demonstrations had adults and children cupping their ears as canon fire blasted toward the Delaware River engulfing the banks in a sulfur-ladened smoky fog.

Standing near the visitors center, Washington Crossing native Tom Madock of Yardley read the immortal words of the Declaration of Independence penned by Thomas Jefferson that set the stage for the Revolutionary War.

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness,” he said as the words fell on the ears of the assembled crowd, much as they
did in communities throughout the 13 Colonies in 1776.

In front of the Durham boat house, re-enactor Paul Beck was mustering youngsters into the Colonial Army, equipping each with toy wooden muskets.

Assembled along Embarkation Drive with their muskets in hand, Beck led them through a series of drills before heading to a nearby patch of grass to “charge” the field.

So how did this year’s class of recruits measure up? “They are the best group that we’ve had. And I can say without hesitation that they are prepared to help General Washington when the need arises.”

Later they got to see a real musket drill narrated by re-enactor Frank Lyons, proprietor of the Continental Tavern in Yardley.

Lyons and the men led the musket firing drill on the banks of the Delaware River where Washington launched his bold and daring crossing of the Delaware River in 1776, a military maneuver that changed the course of the war.

Throughout the park, the sights and sounds of the American Revolution were everywhere from a blacksmithing demonstration to the sounds of the park’s Fife and Drum Corps, which played prior to the reading of the Declaration and then led young recruits into the field of “battle.”

The day also included an encampment by the 5th PA and Marbleheaders, an environmental education activity table, quill pen writing, soldier’s gear demonstration and lots more.

The 4th of July celebration at the park capped off a weekend of Independence Day activities, which included Colonial Toys and Games on Saturday and a Rebels and Redcoats Car Show on Sunday.

The unique car show featured American, French, British and German cars, all representing the four countries involved in the American Revolutionary War.

The Rebel entries had the advantage, many of them lined up in the shade on the warm July day, but the Redcoats won the day with Best of Show going to a spectacular ride - a 1950 Rolls-Royce Drophead Roadster owned by Gene Epstein.

"This is a one-of-a-kind special built for one of the wealthiest people in the United Kingdom in the 50s that has won numerous national awards," said Epstein.

The tone of the day was set by the Washington Crossing Park Fifes and Drums, which performed on a shaded grassy area near the food trucks.