When Patrick and I first got married he worked at a Civil War Museum in Strasburg, VA. It's been about 14 years... can't believe it!! A few years ago, we learned that the museum had closed and most of the museums and shops that had once been in the town were now out of business... Even the Inn where we had our reception had been sold at auction. It was disheartening. But now that it is the 150 anniversary of the start of the Civil War, most of these places have been reopened, including the Museum at Hupp's Hill and the Wayside Inn where we had our wedding weekend. We were both very excited that these places, so special to us, are finding new life once again.
This weekend, the Town of Strasburg and nearby Cedar Creek Battlefield hosted an unusual reenactment of the Great Train Raid... featuring an appearance by Stonewall Jackson himself! I knew it would be really special for Abby to see, so we braved the traffic, dressed Abby in her civil war attire and went early Sunday morning to catch a glimpse of Stonewall reviewing his troops on the battlefield. (Before we left, Margaret snapped the house key in our laundry room door and we had to unscrew the darn thing in record time so we wouldn't miss Old Stonewall's appearance!) The reenactor was spot-on and Abby was quietly shrieking when he made it up the Old Valley Turnpike on "Little Sorrel." She whispered, "It's my dream come true!" when he marched by! She was too intimidated to approach him, but I think a lasting impression was made! The girls purchased Chinese parasols and woven fans and we trekked into Strasurg in the 90 degree heat to watch the reenactment of the train engine get carried past by draft horses. It didn't hurt that ta Mexican restaurant opened right next to the Strasburg train depot! As we hiked to town, AP was excited to find a cactus growing off the roadway and despite my warnings, he decided he would pick off a piece to bring home. He had the bright idea of putting it in a pocket in his shorts. And after waiting hours to see the train to come through town, he was in the bathroom picking needles out of his heinie when the procession passed by the restaurant! On the way home, we discovered Abby had a tic feasting in her ear. A gallon of ice cream distracted her enough for me to pull it out!
See the pics:
