July – We Fight for Independence!

In a few days there will be fireworks displays, parades and cookouts, all in honor of our country’s independence.  But how did we get there?  All month long I’ll be reading about the American Revolution and the people who fought for our country.  I do hope this undertaking won’t cause any unpleasant elementary school flashbacks; I’m afraid I’ve spent my life a bit overexposed to the Revolutionary War.  Growing up in a small town just miles from a decisive battle, we were fed all sorts of historical lore.  Supposedly, British troops were quartered in my village, even exercising their horses by jumping them over the (still standing) cemetery wall.  I don’t know whether it was pure academic intoxication from being so close to a critical part of history or an utter lack of organized curriculum, but I was taught about the war every single year from first through fifth grade. Clearly unable to break free of the siren call of the revolution, I’ve lived in both Boston and Philadelphia since college, which means I should be an expert on that whole time period by now.  Sadly I’m not, but it’s fairly easy for me to envision the locations I read about and at least I have a working knowledge of how to pronounce Hessian.  While I’d love to personally walk you past historic buildings and battlefields showing you where all these stories take place, I’m afraid our tour this month will be strictly virtual.  So go ahead, get in the holiday spirit and pick up some books on the American Revolution.