July 3, 2012--Revolutionary War Re-Enactment

For the past 25 years (plus), we have been going up to the Bills' house for fireworks on July 3rd.  When we first started, only a handful of families went up and took a dish to share for an evening picnic/meal & then we would go to their pasture to enjoy some fireworks.

Brent Bills is very patriotic & always had stories to share about the constitution and the beginnings of our country with us.  Later, they added bigger & more fireworks, music, computers & then synchronized everything (you could even listen to the narrative/music on the radio).   The family provides ice cream & watermelon for everyone to eat.  And over the years, hundreds & hundreds of people come from all over to see this fireworks program.

This past November, Brent Bills unexpectedly died in an airplane crash.  The family didn't know if they would still have their fireworks.  They decided they would have it again this year.  But with the dry, hot weather & a county-wide (& almost state-wide) ban on fireworks, they thought they would have to cancel everything.  But on Sunday, July 1st, they announced that they would still have the program--minus the fireworks.   

 So on the evening of July 3rd, our family went up to the Bills.  My Aunt Susie, Uncle Errol, cousin Angela & her 2 kids--Jacob & Kami--were here too.

Orley went around recruiting (drafting) people to help with the revolutionary war re-enactment, and after some persistent persuading (and may a gun/knife was involved????==ha, ha), Zane agreed to help.

 One of Brent's sisters made all the people involved get their pictures taken, so that is how I was able to capture all these pictures of Zane.

 Orley (a good family friend--like a second dad to me) has always played a minuteman & uses his muzzle loader gun.

 

 Zane held the ammunition for the other guys because there weren't enough guns (and he was the youngest one there).

My mom sitting by Aunt Susie--the heat gets to both of the quickly so we found some shade until the program started.

Sashaann, Emmalee, Benjamin & Brienna enjoying watermelon & ice cream.

Mom finding some shade.

You can see some of the smoke in the background--most of it would be gone in the mornings and settle back in the evenings.

Emmalee sitting on Brienna's lap.

Ben snuggling on Aunt Pamela's lap.
I'll have a separate post with the video from the re-enactment.  I hope it works :)