Five Days on the East Coast

 While Dave jaunted off to Haiti for some Humanitarian work, I flew to New York for Brennan's graduation.  What a fun trip!  Jill, Kimbrey, Dave and I went to New York about this time last year, but most of our time was spent seeing Church History sites, so this year, since we had a free day before Brennan's movers come, we went to some Revolutionary Battle sites.  One of those was the battle at Saratoga.

This battle was a hugely important one for the American Revolution because we not only won this battle, but the British Army had to surrender.  They were surrounded and couldn't even retreat!  This was a HUGE blow to the British and a HUGE shot in the arm for the Revolutionaries.  The house above was a farmers house that was taken over by the Americans during the battle and became the headquarters for Benedict Arnold, a hero at this time in the war.  I kind of feel sorry for poor Benedict Arnold and the stupid choice he made later in the war. 

And this was a platform that was used to anchor a cannon as the fighting was going on.  It was a beautiful site, alot like Gettysburg, but was not covered with monuments and signage.  I can never describe the reverent feeling that exists where people have given their lives for freedom.  It is incredible!

 I felt bad hurrying away from Saratoga, but our time was short and we had an hour's drive to get to Fort Ticonderoga.  This place was so cool!  It played a huge roll in both the French and Indian war, and the Revolutionary War.  These are rein-actors working at the Fort.  The guy in the tri-corner hat was our tour guide.

 The fort was completely leveled during both wars, but a private group rebuilt it to the way it was during the 1600-1700's.  They had shoe makers and tailors there who made the clothing the rein-actors wore in the same old way they made them back then.  It was fun to watch and to talk to them.

 Here is a cannon pointed out to sea.  This is the view a soldier would have as a battle was being fought

Just a quick history lesson - During the Revolutionary war, when England took over Boston, Ethan Allen and his army and Benedict Arnold came to Fort Ticonderoga, knocked on the door of the unsuspecting British who occupied it, and took over the Fort without firing a single shot.  They took the cannons from there and transported them to Boston for the battle that would win Boston back.  Pretty cool, those early Patriots.  They make my heart swell.   Wish we had a few of those guys around now  :)