Writing his wife Abigail of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams foretold: It ought to be commemorated, as the Day of Deliverance by Solemn Acts of Devotion to God Almighty. It ought to be Solemnized with Pomp and Parade with Shews, Games, Sports, Guns, Bells, Bonfires and Illuminations from one End of this Continent to the other from this Time forward forever more.
JULY 4: SALUTE TO THE STATES
JULY 4: PUBLIC READING OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
JULY 4: PATRICK HENRY
Later that afternoon we visited with Governor Patrick Henry, the first governor of Virginia.
Reflecting on a little speech he gave the year before in Richmond town, the little fishing village at the fall of the mighty James, he gave the *entire* speech, complete with crescendos and dramatic gestures!
“Give me liberty or give me peace!”
Mr. Henry says he neither memorized it nor read from notes but spoke extempori from (his) mother wit.
JULY 4: COSTUME VIGNETTES
JULY 4: JUNIOR FIFE DRUM CORPS
JULY 4: FIREWORKS
More details of the many celebrations like Salute to the States are here.
JULY 5 SPYGAME: REVQUEST OF THE LION AND THE UNICORN
{{{In pictures of this day my kids are wearing red bananas, to signify they are playing a spy game with the interpreters.}}}
Arriving to seek clues near the Governor’s Palace, who knew the lovely day would break out in turmoil.
While a colonial friend sought respite with my kids on this porch…
…we suddenly heard commotion on the Palace Green!
The townspeople were angry because the royal governor had taken their gunpowder!
Read more about this event that really happened two days after Lexington and Concord, here.
Further spy cluing took my kids to the Wythe House, where we also used an 18th century microscope!
Ending a very hot day of spy games at the Cheese Shop in Merchant Square near Colonial Williamsburg.
JULY 5: JEFFERSON AND ADAMS THE STAGE PLAY
After dinner at the Cheese Shop, we were ready for a most excellent play to celebrate Independence.
For the first time we were able to arrange our schedule to see Jefferson and Adams: The Stage Play in live performance at the Kimball Theater.
Although we first saw it a few years ago when we lived in Texas, seeing it live was different, since the actors didn’t have cinematic effects as in the DVD.
I had a lot of fun sitting next to my kids, listening to them laugh at all the right parts, indicating they’ve learned their history regarding Thomas Jefferson and John Adams.
The informative play was crystal clear, and quite interesting to watch being dramatized.
JULY 6: WEAVER DYEING BLUES AND GREENS
Walking by the weaver, we saw the newly dyed yarns in various shades of blues and green drying in the breeze.
Last year we watched the weaver dye yarn in various shades of red.
JULY 6: FIFE AND DRUM CORPS GRADUATES UNIQUELY HONORED
One of the Fife and Drum Corps youth was specially honored by the Marquis de Lafayette!
After the review of the troops, we followed the Fife and Drum Corps as they fifed and drummed down the street.
To my surprise, some of the interpreters came out to grandly wave flags.
Instead of disbanding, they kept fifing and drumming with special moves on Botetourt Street.
Wow! A unique show! This was great!
They kept up the beat all the way through the secret entrance from the 18th to the 21st century for the interpreters (which always reminds me of Field of Dreams.)
Later an employee explained that the special honor by Lafayette, fun flag waving, and extra fifing and drumming are part of the high school graduation ceremony from the Fife and Drum Corps!
What fun!!! I’m so glad we got to see that!
