Saturday was the second annual Blain Family reunion.
Which had a really decent turnout.
Cousin Lisa has such a great place, and even though it looks like a catalog, the place is super inviting :)
I slept like a baby, even though I didn't have my teddy bear.
Just like last time, the Sunday ride home involved a rest stop in Harpers Ferry, only this time we had some cousins to tag along :)
We arrived just prior to anything opening its doors, which was actually pretty perfect timing since it turned out to be a Living History week. In true mom-fashion, we poked our noses in on some ladies prepping a traditional breakfast for the soldiers.
We made our way around camp and started into town before the tourists arrived, which afforded us a personal history lesson from a most excellent Mr. Kennedy. I love show and tell.
Here's Mr. Kennedy, a retired vet, now living historian, showing us a picture of the youngest soldier to have enlisted in the Civil War.
John Lincoln Clem ran away from home and attempted to join up thrice before the 22nd Michigan let the tenacious boy on as a drummer. His valor throughout the war earned the youngest non-commissioned officer, Lieutenant. He remained in the army, officially retiring at age , a Major General, the only Major General to have never gone to school.
Hope he saved enough energy for the next tourists.
While strolling though the medical camp, I picked up some info for my boss, who is super interested in Civil War re-enacting. Everyone was really obliging.
Did you know the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam and Gettysburg are next year. First weekend in July will be the most re-enacters occupying sacred grounds and clashing together over the span of four days. Since there is never this many re-enacters in one place ever, and they are capping attendance off at 80,000, it's going to be an event to behold, since you won't get to see this again in your lifetime.
At the bottom half of town, under the tracks, and at the bank of the Shenandoah, we walked in on a Sunday baptism.
Having the living history walking around brought my imagination to life. I really hope I can watch the anniversary battles next year.
The railway has a walking path attached now, that stops just short of the mountain tunnel, and a spiral stair wide enough for carrying a bicycle, or tube, takes you to the bank of the river, which was littered with tubing groups. It was the perfect currant for a lounge down stream or a baptism.
We did get some lunch, and after a longer than anticipated stay, we said our goodbyes and headed our separate ways. Until next reunion.
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