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Why We Re-Enact
By Melvin D. Rowe
For those who have seen the HBO series “Band of Brothers,” an HBO series that follows the paratroopers of Easy Company of the 101st Air Division. Part nine is titled “Why We Fight” and in that episode they stumble upon and liberate one of the Nazi's concentration camp. The same question, sort of, could be asked of those who travel around, primitive camping in heat, cold, wind and rain, to re-enact battles that happened 100-225 years ago.
Re-enacting is not a cheap hobby. The re-enactors don't get paid. In fact, sometimes they have to pay a fee. The cost of the period clothing, canvas tents, iron campfire accessories, and all the other stuff is significant , plus many have a special vehicle or trailer just to haul it all. And they may travel hours away from home. And that doesn't include those muzzleloading weapons that can run into the thousands.
I've overheard them say things like we get to play cowboys and Indians. Or others have said they are interested in history. Most, like me, would say they enjoy the camping. I'm an old Boy Scout, so canvas tents with no bottoms, cooking on an open fire and everything else about it is what camping is all about. Hooking up your rv to power and sewage lines and then sitting in the ac watching television... that's a traveling motel that is convenient when on a trip, but to me it is not camping.
And the public doesn't always seem to get it. They ask if we sleep in the tents or go back to a motel. They ask if the campfires are real. They see the leather and furs and make comments like, “Huuuu, dead animals!” even though they are wearing leather belts and shoes.
But occasionally there is a moment that leaves one speechless and makes it all worthwhile. It's a moment that makes you come back again, to the next one. After the Saturday afternoon re-enactment of the Siege of Fort Boonesborough, at the state park in Kentucky, an elderly gentlemen came up to me. The re-enactors on both sides; the settlers in the fort, the British and the Native Americans, gather before the crowd. Many like to have their photograph taken with us, especially the kids. So we gather and stand there as the crowd passes by leaving the staging area. But this time it was different. The elderly gentlemen who was wearing a World War II Veteran cap, had tears in his eyes. He said that we had made him cry to see what those people went through to found this country, and sincerely thanked me.
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