I wanted to go to the artillery demonstrations in Concord on Saturday, but everyone else in the family has plans. We went to Concord last year with the grandchildren, and I told them the story. At 10, 8, 5 & 2, I don't know much sank in, but we had a nice little hike and family time. The highlights were the tree that their grandmother and father had climbed in 1992 (we played the video for them before the trip), and watching the fish from the bridge.
That sounds so interesting, Deborah! I love how you shared your own family story and media beforehand to bring it alive for your littles first and draw them in. What a way to be a great ancestor! Its got to be wonderful to live close to those historical sites and your family. Thank you for sharing with us and happy 250!
What a fabulous post, Anne. It would appear that you and I are rather close cousins. I loved the detail you shared about Francis Dana (1743-1811). I had no idea about this connection. Given a shared ancestor through his 2x great-grandparents, Simon Bradstreet and Anne Dudley, it would appear that you and I are also cousins. 🥰
Gosh, Kyla. I need to tap into your irrepressible enthusiasm over the coming weeks and months.
For many reasons, the Fourth has always been a big deal for me. I remember the 1976 bicentennial very well, indeed. I was just a year shy of voting (since we're giving away ages 😉). Though born in the US, I returned for the first time as an adolescent. I was incredibly idealistic. Red-white-and-blue. The Statue of Liberty, the whole thing.
By the time of the bicentennial celebrations, the violence of 1968, the Vietnam War, and Watergate still hung in the air. I also had a very confused view of American history. By the 10th grade, I'd been to three high schools, two of them overseas. AP American History, taken over a summer, got me through the tests but didn't teach me much.
As you might have guessed from my enthusiasm for this Lafayette Project, it's a bit of a self-imposed reform project. It's my personal path to America250 in 2026. I suppose at some level, I want to regain that idealism.
It's impressive to think that the good Marquis de Lafayette survived both the Revolutionary War and the French Revolution and still held onto his idealism. I think I need a little of what he had. I suppose this is one reason I treasure our friends around the world. 🥹 I treasure what the American flag used to mean. It's been weighing on my mind as I try to wipe away politics and focus on my Project Recipe talk on Thursday. You'll see the background here. Projectkin.org/lafayette.
As you get involved, I'd love to tap your perspective and expertise in building a timeline. It would seem to be an appropriate follow-up to this project. Failing that, the lead-up to the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, might do. I think there's time to get something organized before 2033. 😉 Let's talk.
Putting out lanterns for Paul Revere’s ride would be so fun!
I wanted to go to the artillery demonstrations in Concord on Saturday, but everyone else in the family has plans. We went to Concord last year with the grandchildren, and I told them the story. At 10, 8, 5 & 2, I don't know much sank in, but we had a nice little hike and family time. The highlights were the tree that their grandmother and father had climbed in 1992 (we played the video for them before the trip), and watching the fish from the bridge.
That sounds so interesting, Deborah! I love how you shared your own family story and media beforehand to bring it alive for your littles first and draw them in. What a way to be a great ancestor! Its got to be wonderful to live close to those historical sites and your family. Thank you for sharing with us and happy 250!
I wrote about some of my family's involvement in the American Revolution a few years ago: https://anneyoungau.wordpress.com/2020/07/03/george-iii-my-part-in-his-downfall/
What a fabulous post, Anne. It would appear that you and I are rather close cousins. I loved the detail you shared about Francis Dana (1743-1811). I had no idea about this connection. Given a shared ancestor through his 2x great-grandparents, Simon Bradstreet and Anne Dudley, it would appear that you and I are also cousins. 🥰
Gosh, Kyla. I need to tap into your irrepressible enthusiasm over the coming weeks and months.
For many reasons, the Fourth has always been a big deal for me. I remember the 1976 bicentennial very well, indeed. I was just a year shy of voting (since we're giving away ages 😉). Though born in the US, I returned for the first time as an adolescent. I was incredibly idealistic. Red-white-and-blue. The Statue of Liberty, the whole thing.
By the time of the bicentennial celebrations, the violence of 1968, the Vietnam War, and Watergate still hung in the air. I also had a very confused view of American history. By the 10th grade, I'd been to three high schools, two of them overseas. AP American History, taken over a summer, got me through the tests but didn't teach me much.
As you might have guessed from my enthusiasm for this Lafayette Project, it's a bit of a self-imposed reform project. It's my personal path to America250 in 2026. I suppose at some level, I want to regain that idealism.
It's impressive to think that the good Marquis de Lafayette survived both the Revolutionary War and the French Revolution and still held onto his idealism. I think I need a little of what he had. I suppose this is one reason I treasure our friends around the world. 🥹 I treasure what the American flag used to mean. It's been weighing on my mind as I try to wipe away politics and focus on my Project Recipe talk on Thursday. You'll see the background here. Projectkin.org/lafayette.
As you get involved, I'd love to tap your perspective and expertise in building a timeline. It would seem to be an appropriate follow-up to this project. Failing that, the lead-up to the signing of the Treaty of Paris on September 3, 1783, might do. I think there's time to get something organized before 2033. 😉 Let's talk.