See Revolutionary War soldiers at the New Windsor Cantonment

New Windsor — The New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site will host a day of Revolutionary War military demonstrations and activities on Saturday, April 28, presented by the Brigade of the American Revolution, an international historical association dedicated to recreating the life and times of the common soldier of the War for Independence, 1775-1783. The soldiers will set up tents, perform military drills and demonstrate other aspects of 18th century life. At 10 a.m. and 1:15 p.m., uniformed soldiers will fire muskets and maneuver to the tunes of fifes and drums. Visitors will not only see soldiers this weekend, but also women and children who traveled with the armies, called campfollowers. The remarkable variety of dress worn by participants provides a living window to the past. Green-coated Loyalists, blue coated German mercenaries collectively called Hessians, and British regulars, in red, stand poised to defend the interests of the King and Parliament. Among the Patriot forces, you will find not only Continentals, like the Light Infantry, dressed in blue coats as they would have been at the Battle of Yorktown, Virginia, in 1781, but also regiments in gray, brown or whatever color happened to be available at the time. The experience is an authentic education for all ages. The members of the Brigade of the American Revolution use this weekend to teach the latest knowledge in recreating life from that era. Besides the military drill demonstrations, visitors can hear a talk on “How Washington Won an Un-winnable War” at 11 a.m. by noted lecturer and author George Neumann. At 2 p.m., Historic Site Manager Michael Clark will deliver a lecture on the historical significance of the New Windsor Cantonment. Robert Allegretto follows this lecture with a presentation on the Badge of Military Merit, the forerunner of the modern Purple Heart Medal. In addition to the special programs and activities, the National Purple Heart Hall of Honor, the New Windsor Cantonment Visitor Center and Exhibits Building are open. These buildings feature the story of the Purple Heart, the history of the New Windsor Cantonment, Revolutionary War artifacts and the exhibit the Last Argument of Kings, Revolutionary War Artillery. A picnic grove is available and there is plenty of free parking. The site is open to the public, Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.. Also be sure to visit Washington’s Headquarters in Newburgh, a short drive from the New Windsor Cantonment. New Windsor Cantonment State Historic Site is part of the Palisades Interstate Park Commission. For more information, call 561-1765. For more information about New York State parks and historic sites, visit www.nysparks.com. For more information about the parks and historic sites in the Palisades Interstate Park, visit www.friendsofpalisades.org.