Wednesday, February 18, 2009

Smoke, Fire, Freedom, Memory

Boom. The dread smell of gunpowder filled the air just west of Washington DC this past Sunday afternoon as men and boys lined up and took fire at one another.

Authentic re-enactors fought a mock battle at a Civil War fort here, but simulated a battle from the Revolutionary War to mark the birthdays of President Washington and President Lincoln. With some imagination one could feel as if he were observing a small skirmish in this long war from long ago that established our nation and in many ways changed the course of the world.

As I took this last photo, I thought to myself how opponents of liberty have always been willing to kill in the name of tyranny and how patriots have always been willing to fight and even die if necessary for freedom.

p.s. Don't let the "redcoat" fool you. This young man was a drummer for the American side.