The morning of the Fourth of July oozed with anticipation!
Where else to celebrate our country’s birthday than the very place that was instrumental in the formation of our country?
Virginians paved the way for America
Persuading Thomas Jefferson to write the Declaration of Independence, Harvard graduate John Adams insisted: Reason first — You are a Virginian, and a Virginian ought to appear at the head of this business.
The Virginian Founding Fathers (Patrick Henry, George Mason, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee, George Washington, James Madison, Peyton Randolph) served as burgesses in the colonial capital of Virginia, located in Williamsburg.
Abruptly dismantled two different times by the tyrannical royal governor in the days leading to the revolution, the burgesses took their work elsewhere.
Burgess Patrick Henry
In 1765 the fiery Patrick Henry debuted his service in the House of Burgesses in Williamsburg with his Caesar-Brutus speech.
Caesar had his Brutus — Charles the First, His Cromwell — And George the Third” — (“Treason!” cried the Speaker — “Treason, treason!” echoed from every part of the house). Henry faultered not for an instant, but rising to a loftier attitude, concluded thus – “may profit by their example. If this be treason, make the most of it.
Later his famous Give me liberty or give me death speech was powerfully orated in Richmond in April 1775.
It is in vain, sir, to extenuate the matter. Gentlemen may cry, Peace, Peace but there is no peace. The war is actually begun! The next gale that sweeps from the north will bring to our ears the clash of resounding arms! Our brethren are already in the field! Why stand we here idle? What is it that gentlemen wish? What would they have? Is life so dear, or peace so sweet, as to be purchased at the price of chains and slavery? Forbid it, Almighty God! I know not what course others may take; but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!
Burgess George Mason
As a burgess, George Mason wrote the Virginia Declaration of Rights that the burgesses adopted on June 12, 1776. It was sent posthaste to Thomas Jefferson in Philadelphia.
That all men are by nature equally free and independent, and have certain inherent rights…
Burgess Thomas Jefferson
Thomas Jefferson, educated in Williamsburg at the College of William and Mary and while reading law under George Wythe, later watched his teacher sign the Declaration of Independence.
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.
Much of the verbiage between the Virginia Declaration of Rights and the Declaration of Independence is similar because Mason and Jefferson believed in the same ideals learned from their classical education.
Burgess Richard Henry Lee
At the Continental Congress, Richard Henry Lee provided these famous words for the Declaration of Independence: That these United Colonies are and of Right out to be, Free and Independent States…
Burgess George Washington
As a young man George Washington spent much time in Williamsburg: gaining his surveying license, then later reporting to the royal governor about the French and Indian War, and serving as burgess at the colonial capital.
Upon his death, Lighthorse Harry Lee eulogized Washington’s service to our country, as commanding general of the American Revolution and first president of our country. (BTW, Lighthorse Harry Lee is the father of Robert E. Lee, who married Martha Washington’s great-granddaughter.)
First in war, first in peace, and first in the hearts of his countrymen.
Burgess James Madison
Known as the Father of our Constitution, James Madison helped George Mason write the Virginia Declaration of Rights, and helped write the first amendment, the first draft of which states:
The civil rights of none shall be abridged on account of religious belief or worship, nor shall any national religion be established, nor shall the full and equal rights of conscience be in any manner, or on any pretext infringed.
“The people shall not be deprived or abridged of their right to speak, to write, or to publish their sentiments; and the freedom of the press, as one of the great bulwarks of liberty, shall be inviolable.
The people shall not be restrained from peaceably assembling and consulting for their common good; nor from applying to the legislature by petitions, or remonstrances for redress of their grievances.
Burgess Peyton Randolph
Speaker of the Virginia House of Burgesses from 1766 to 1775, Randolph became the most influential man in the colonies.
When the First Continental Congress convened in Philadelphia on September 5, 1774, he was unanimously elected president.
Silas Deane wrote:
Designed by nature for the business, of an affable, open and majestic deportment, large in size, though not out of proportion, he commands respect and esteem by his very aspect, independent of the high character he sustains.
Threatened with arrest by treason by the British after his service as president of the Continental Congress, the Williamsburg militia vowed to protect him after he returned home from Philadelphia.
May heaven grant you long to live the father of your country – and the friend to freedom and humanity! -Williamsburg militia to Peyton Randolph
While eating dinner with his cousin, Thomas Jefferson, during the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, Randolph suddenly died October 22, 1775.
Scholars say that had Peyton Randolph lived long enough, he’d have been the first president of our country.
Colonial Williamsburg celebrates as John Adams predicted
After the signing of the Declaration of Independence, John Adams wrote his wife Abigail: 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.
On this day, my favorite of the year, Colonial Williamsburg delivered on John Adams’ prediction.
Fife and Drum Corps salute the original thirteen states
The first big event of the day was a salute to the original thirteen states by the fife and drum corps at Market Square.
As John Adams predicted, muskets fire even today in celebration of Independence Day!
The senior fife and drum corps played a special tune for each state.
The cannon blasted after each tune.
Guests from each of the original states cheered when their state was saluted.
Virginia was last!
Since we have recently moved to Virginia from Texas, it was an absolute thrill to be able to cheer with the other Virginians!
Besides Texans know all about revolutions!
They played The World Turned Upside Down which is traditionally thought to have been played at the surrender ceremonies at Yorktown.
For Virginia, all the cannons fired!
Then the fife and drum corps marched by…
Then we followed them in a procession down the Duke of Gloucester Street to the capitol.
Excitement was building.
Surrounded by major crowds of guests, far more than I’ve ever before seen, we continued to the Capitol for the beginning of Revolutionary City.
Later in the programming the fife and drum corps arrived at the Capitol, where the crowd had become larger.
One of the drum majors asked my son if he had a request.
He asked for “Janizary” and they complied, playing the tune, while marching to the capitol where the House of Burgesses met!
Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence
Wow, after all that we were fired up for the public reading of the Declaration of Independence.
After the reading, the fife and drum corps led us out to the tune of “Yankee Doodle”…
Auction for the unique July 4th Bell
After lunch under shady trees, we attended the auction, an event we often enjoy, but this one was unique to Independence Day.
The proprietor of the store, Mr. Greenhow, explained that the sale proceeds would go to the widows and orphans in Boston, enduring the blockade (after the tea party).
It’s a reserve auction of items sold in one of the CW stores where guests can buy souvenirs at a bargain.
The low bid starts around half the actual retail price in the store.
There must be at least two bidders, unknown to each other.
If the winning bid goes over the retail, the price is taken down a bit.
All the bidders win the item, but only the high bidder receives the item from the auction table at the completion of the event.
The rest of the bidders receive a rain check to to take the store to receive the same item at the winning price.
Midway through the auction a bell engraved with the capitol and the date is auctioned.
But there is only one of those, and the sky is the limit for bidding.
On the Fourth of July, the bell sold for the highest price I have heard, about $435.
That was so much fun to watch the competition among several dwindle down to two while the bidding kept rising!
The crowd roared with fun as they wondered how far would it go!
Again, John Adams was right about games being part of the celebration of our Independence!
Picnic Dinner and Colonial Games
After a picnic dinner we laid on a blanket on Market Square in preparation for the fireworks.
When we saw other families playing cards, we laughed that we should have bid on the 18th century card decks during the auction. We could have played with those.
The kids decided to go to the tent sale near the Magazine, across the road.
My daughter returned with a deck of the colonial cards from the auction (but she paid regular price because we did not bid on them) and a couple of bars of lavender soap…one for her and one for me! Awww….
My daughter decided we should play with the fables deck, which is like our contemporary cards in that they have sets of diamonds, hearts, clubs and spades.
The difference is that they are only in the top left corner, while the rest of the card has a picture and story and moral of a fable.
After a while, a man came over whom we had seen at the auction the day before.
After talking about my kids’ costumes, he taught us an 18th century game called 10 and 4.
Finally the fife and drum corps arrived with great fanfare!
Playing tunes as they arrived from Nicholson Street they proceeded to the stage.
First to perform was the junior corps who saluted the original 13 states.
After that a small group of the senior corps stepped to the stage to play complex pieces.
Finally all of the senior corps came together to perform their tunes.
After an hour of music, the fireworks began!
While watching the colorful explosions in the air, I thought about our Founding Fathers…Patrick Henry insisting that tyranny is at hand…the Burgesses making difficult decisions between loyalty to an old country or creating a new one…of Thomas Jefferson, using his classical education of ancient civilizations and philosophers on the freedom of mankind to write the pivotal document of not only American history but also of all the world.
I even thought of John Adams who had great foresight into the impact of the Declaration of Independence, prompting parades, fanfare, and fireworks for generations to come, celebrating our country’s birthday.
A country born, for the first time in history, on the basis of representative government.
Remember, as private citizens, we do have a say in our government.
Parading down Duke of Gloucester Street at Night
After the fireworks, the senior fife and drum corps started marching down the Duke of Gloucester Street, led by torch bearers!
All of us followed them, then the junior fife and drum corps marched behind us!
It was a thrilling experience to be marching in the middle of the two corps!
At the other end of the street, in front of the taverns, everyone stopped and listened to the playing, since the fife and drum corps stopped too.
Finally it all came to an end and it was a jubilant ending to an incredible day!
We walked down some backroads to get to our hotel and finally looking up I saw a street sign that said, Washington.
The next one was Adams and the last one was Jefferson.
I asked if we had crossed Lafayette and everyone said that was the first one.
As I cried to myself I thought, “How could I miss it?” everyone else exclaimed, “Mom, how could you miss it?” Sigh.
Oh well, at least I did not miss an incredible Fourth of July in the historic patriotic town of Colonial Williamsburg!
For more photos check my Flickr set.
Comments from my old blog location
Dana @ School For Us July 8, 2009 at 4:07 AM –What an amazing way to celebrate the 4th! And, I just love reading about your experiences at CW. One of these days, I hope to go there! In fact, I’d love to go there in September for the homeschool days. We’ll see! -Dana, www.alexml.blogspot.com
Kellie July 8, 2009 at 9:41 AM – I always enjoy your pics of CW. We are starting a two-year study of American History this school year, and I hope we can make it there at some point during our studies. I may have to e-mail you and ask for some travel tips! =) -www.thepiratemom.com
Pam July 12, 2009 at 6:08 PM-What a lovely day! Loved the archaeological dig. That sounds fascinating. I can’t wait to scroll up and read the rest!-Blessings, Pam
kb January 5, 2010 at 6:22 AM-Hi – I was reading your comments about your trip to CW with your family. We have always loved going there and went there for our honeymoon almost 30 years ago! We try to get back at least every few years.
Oh – and for the record – I am glad I was able to provide you with some light entertainment while we were there. I was the person bidding on the Auction Bell that you mentioned. I didn’t win it – but at least I provided you with a fun memory!
