One day we found a package in our mailbox, sent by some children in North Carolina, who asked us to take their friend, Flat Stanley, to Colonial Williamsburg!
What a wonderful idea! Huzzah!
COSTUME FOR FLAT STANLEY
As my kids highly anticipated their upcoming visit to Colonial Williamsburg for Prelude to Victory weekend while wearing their 18th century costumes, Flat Stanley asked: Can I have a costume too?
My reputation for sewing costumes had reached even Flat Stanley.
Not wanting to leave him out of the incredibly fun experience of being properly dressed in Colonial Williamsburg, I eagerly consented.
However my specialty is in 3D fabric costumes, so I asked my son, the artist, if he would make a proper 2D paper suit for Flat Stanley.
My son auditioned several color combinations, asking Stanley if he had a preference.
They agreed on a certain blue and green combination.
Now Flat Stanley was ready to time travel.
With exuberance he properly exclaimed in 18th century style: Huzzah!
He couldn’t wait to go!
SEPTEMBER 1781 WILLIAMSBURG VIRGINIA
Attending Prelude to Victory in Colonial Williamsburg, we traveled back in time to September 1781, when the French and American troops arrived from the north with Generals Washington and Rochambeau to meet General Lafayette in Williamsburg.
The British were cornered in Yorktown where American victory was certain!
MEETING THE SHEEP
While walking through the historic area, we passed a pasture of sheep, who bleated loudly to say hi to Flat Stanley.
SPYING FOR GENERAL WASHINGTON
We took Flat Stanley to the Continental Army encampment at the Courthouse, where we saw a strategic planning meeting by the generals.
Stanley listened very carefully in case he would be called upon to become a spy for General Washington.
MEETING THE TROOPS
We also took him to the encampment near the Governor’s Palace, where Stanley enjoyed walking around, meeting the troops and camp followers, and asking lots of questions.
The Governor’s Palace once inhabited by Royal Governors of the British crown, is now a hospital for the Continental Army.
We warned Stanley that the doctors can be quite graphic, so he decided remain in the encampment to talk some more to the troops!
MEETING THE HORSES
In the pasture near the Governor’s Palace, Flat Stanley enjoyed seeing the horses.
He wished that he could ride a horse, just like Lafayette!
MEETING LAFAYETTE
When they were done horsing around, we made our way to a very important meeting with General Lafayette, himself!
Amazingly, General Lafayette found time in his busy schedule, as aide de camp to General Washington, to meet with Stanley and others at the St. George Tucker House, down the road from the palace.
Since Stanley enjoys geography so much, he was especially thrilled to hear about Lafayette’s journey to America from Europe on a ship and his travels along the Eastern seaboard on a horse!
When General Lafayette caught us up on the news that the British were now cornered in Yorktown, he assured us of certain victory, since Cornwallis had no hope of escaping nor receiving needed supplies.
General Lafayette kindly allowed us time for a quick rendering with Flat Stanley, before returning to his important duties!
MEETING THOMAS JEFFERSON
After hearing about how the Declaration of Independence inspired General Lafayette to come to America from France to help in our American Revolution, we took Flat Stanley a block outside of the historic area to see a statue of Thomas Jefferson drafting this pivotal document in world history.
Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1776.
This statue reminds us that Jefferson was educated at the College of William and Mary, which is across the street.
He also studied law in the historic area with George Wythe, who later signed the Declaration of Independence.
It was here in Williamsburg that Jefferson received a classical education, learning and forming ideas that would later help him craft the Declaration of Independence.
Flat Stanley had such an incredible time, that he didn’t want to leave.
However, it was time for him to return to the children in North Carolina by post rider, to share with them his adventures in Colonial Williamsburg!
Huzzah!
