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An alternate
holiday celebration
By Susan Olling
It’s not unusual for those of us who live in the D.C. environs to take
local attractions for granted. We visit them for three reasons:
we just moved here, family or friends are in town, and when we’re about
to move away from the area. However, we can sometimes emerge
during the height of the tourist season if there’s a good reason.
Recently, there was a very good reason.
Some time ago, Mr. History thought it might be fun to go to Mount
Vernon for their 04 Jul celebration. One problem, he’s one
of those federal employees who works on federal holidays. I think
presenting a death certificate and an autopsy report wouldn’t be enough
to be excused from working on the National Mall on 04 Jul.
When we got an email from Mount Vernon about their 02 Jul
fireworks, we decided to purchase tickets and go down there.
Why fireworks on 02 Jul? That was the day in 1776 that the Second
Continental Congress voted for independency. John Adams said that
it was a “day of deliverance” and should be celebrated with “bells,
bonfires, and illuminations from one end of this continent to the
other”. All of this was mentioned by General
Washington. But I’m getting ahead of myself.
The festivities started at 6:00 p.m., but we went earlier to get a good
parking space, have lunch, and take advantage of an unusually moderate
July day at the most historic estate in the country. It’s a bit
over forty miles from our house in Maryland to Mount Vernon, about an
hour’s drive each way. Not much traffic—even through Old Town
Alexandria. I always like to see the statue of the Confederate
soldier with his back to the North as we’re going though Old
Town. The PC police have yet to remove it, thank goodness.
One street going down to the Potomac, Oronoco Street, is named for one
of the varieties of tobacco grown in colonial Virginia. The
health police haven’t figured that out and haven’t demanded a name
change. The best part of the drive is the George Washington (GW)
Memorial Parkway.
One of the best parts of Mount Vernon is a visit with Mrs.
Washington. She loves to talk and expects her guests to
participate. The lovely lady who portrays Mrs. Washington once
worked at Colonial Williamsburg. She portrayed two ladies down
there: Mrs. Washington and Elizabeth Randolph. Mrs. Randolph was
the wife of Peyton Randolph, president of the First and Second
Continental Congresses. Unfortunately, he died of a stroke in
1775. A gentleman from Massachusetts replaced him.
The gardens are a must-see. The animals are fun to watch.
The two Ossabaw Island hogs were dozing. The piglets had already
gone to be part of programs at Colonial Williamsburg. A new
addition, Glory the jennet, decided to be sociable. She walked slowly
over to the fence and enjoyed having her ears scratched.
We had to go through the Mansion, of course. Mr. History isn’t a
fan of the wall colors, but they were the height of fashion in the
eighteenth century. The Nelly Custis bedroom, closed for
restoration when were down there earlier this year, has reopened.
Gorgeously done.
The evening event included activities in which we could
participate. Eighteenth-century dancing was one to watch, not
take part in. Mr. History was afraid that he would be asked to
join in, so he opted out of even watching. Precedent had been set
during a past visit to Colonial Williamsburg, and he didn’t want a
repeat at Mount Vernon.
Tweeters and beaters, so named by Mr. History, were there to add
appropriate music. (That’s fifes and drums, in case you hadn’t
made the connection.)
There was a demonstration of eighteenth-century ice cream making.
The General had an ice cream maker. To obtain the ice to make
this treat, it was collected from the Potomac River during the winter
and stored in an ice house.
We found seats on the piazza and watched as boaters arrived for a river
view of the fireworks. There was quite an armada by dusk.
Mr. History told me not to worry, he didn’t want to get a boat.
Thank you, dear.
The National Concert Band of America, former military musicians and
“select civilians”, presented a lively pre-fireworks
concert. Good repertoire.
The General and Mrs. Washington provided a few remarks, including why
there were fireworks on 02 Jul.
The fireworks, shot from a barge in the river, were spectacular.
The cozy crowd, about two-thousand people, was a well-behaved group.
If you find yourself in D.C. the beginning of July, skip the National
Mall with its hordes of people. Go to Mount Vernon for your
Independence Day holiday.
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