Photo by Juan Carlo, Ventura County Star // Buy this photo
Don Ancell, of Oxnard, plays President Abraham
Lincoln during the Civil War re-enactment Friday behind Underwood
Family Farms in Moorpark. Children from area schools learned about Civil
War era life, met re-enactors and got to see equipment from the 1800s.
The re-enactment events continue this weekend.
It's not every day that one gets to fire an authentic 3-inch ordnance
rifle, the most widely used cannon during the American Civil War.
But that's exactly what 14-year-old Lauren Siler had the opportunity to do Friday when she visited the 12th annual "The Blue and the Gray" Civil War re-enactment at Tierra Rejada Ranch behind Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark.
The re-enactment, sponsored by the Moorpark Rotary Club and hosted by the Richmond Howitzers, continues through Sunday. Gates open at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
The event this year showcases "The Battle of Antietam — America's Most Tragic Day."
Antietam was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Union soil. It is considered the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history.
Re-enactment Chairman Dale Parvin said the annual event is the major fundraiser for the Rotary Club, and money raised supports charitable programs in the community and scholarships.
More than 800 re-enactors participate in the popular event that attracts thousands of visitors each year. It features cannons, cavalry, infantry, encampments and merchants in full uniform or dress of the day. Cooking demonstrations, abolitionist rallies and speeches by Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis re-enactors also are featured.
Returning this year is the popular "Twilight Battle" late Saturday afternoon.
Siler joined her fellow classmates from Mesa Verde Middle School and hundreds of students from other schools throughout Moorpark on Friday for a day set aside just so they could learn more about the Civil War.
"It was very cool," she said after she pulled the rope on the cannon that set off a loud boom throughout the farm field.
Clay Peal, a Newbury Park resident who has participated in the re-enactment for the past six years, said the re-enactors have two of the original cannons that were used in 1862.
The cannon was at Knott's Berry Farm for many years, and it was saved before it was about to be junked. During the event, it is loaded with gunpowder so it can produce noise and smoke. However, there is no projectile, so it is safe to use.
Daniel Lookabill from North Carolina traveled to the Moorpark event, where he portrays William Pettigrew, a Confederate general.
This is the fifth year he has participated in the Moorpark event.
"I absolutely adore (this event)," he said. "This is the largest event west of the Mississippi, so no real re-enactor ever misses this. This is the place to be. We're very happy the way it's managed, and the Moorpark Rotary Club does a fabulous job. We really appreciate it."
Lookabill said participating in the battles is a lot of fun for a re-enactor, but the real joy is being able to educate the public about the Civil War. He said the event also gives the participants the chance to give a Confederate point of view, something he said is not always presented in public schools.
"The Civil war continues to shape us today. There's no event in our history, including our own revolution that has shaped us as much as this war," Lookabill said. "If we can infect just a small percentage of people with a sense of excitement over this kind of history, that's really what we're here to do."
On Friday, 11-year-old Quintt Landis from Mountain Meadows Home Independent Studies enjoyed a presentation of Civil War guns owned by Steve Pavich, of Fountain Valley.
Chaparral Middle School student Nick Fanella, 13, listened to a presentation from an Abraham Lincoln re-enactor.
"I'm enjoying this today because I'm learning and experiencing the real history of our country," Nick said.
• • •
IF YOU GO
What: 12th annual "The Blue and The Gray" Civil War Reenactment
When: Gates open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Battles begin at noon, 3 and 5:15 p.m. Saturday, and noon and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Veterans will be honored during a special ceremony after the first battle Sunday.
Where: Tierra Rejada Ranch behind Underwood Family Farms, 3370 Sunset Valley Road in Moorpark.
Cost: Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for students with school ID and free for children age 5 and younger. Veterans in uniform or with veteran ID will receive a $7 discount off admission Sunday. Credit cards will be accepted.
Information: Event details are at http://www.MoorparkRotary.com. Battle background is at http://www.civilwaralliance.com/CWA/Moorpark1.html.
But that's exactly what 14-year-old Lauren Siler had the opportunity to do Friday when she visited the 12th annual "The Blue and the Gray" Civil War re-enactment at Tierra Rejada Ranch behind Underwood Family Farms in Moorpark.
The re-enactment, sponsored by the Moorpark Rotary Club and hosted by the Richmond Howitzers, continues through Sunday. Gates open at 10 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.
The event this year showcases "The Battle of Antietam — America's Most Tragic Day."
Antietam was the first major battle in the Civil War to take place on Union soil. It is considered the bloodiest single-day battle in U.S. history.
Re-enactment Chairman Dale Parvin said the annual event is the major fundraiser for the Rotary Club, and money raised supports charitable programs in the community and scholarships.
More than 800 re-enactors participate in the popular event that attracts thousands of visitors each year. It features cannons, cavalry, infantry, encampments and merchants in full uniform or dress of the day. Cooking demonstrations, abolitionist rallies and speeches by Abraham Lincoln and Jefferson Davis re-enactors also are featured.
Returning this year is the popular "Twilight Battle" late Saturday afternoon.
Siler joined her fellow classmates from Mesa Verde Middle School and hundreds of students from other schools throughout Moorpark on Friday for a day set aside just so they could learn more about the Civil War.
"It was very cool," she said after she pulled the rope on the cannon that set off a loud boom throughout the farm field.
Clay Peal, a Newbury Park resident who has participated in the re-enactment for the past six years, said the re-enactors have two of the original cannons that were used in 1862.
The cannon was at Knott's Berry Farm for many years, and it was saved before it was about to be junked. During the event, it is loaded with gunpowder so it can produce noise and smoke. However, there is no projectile, so it is safe to use.
Daniel Lookabill from North Carolina traveled to the Moorpark event, where he portrays William Pettigrew, a Confederate general.
This is the fifth year he has participated in the Moorpark event.
"I absolutely adore (this event)," he said. "This is the largest event west of the Mississippi, so no real re-enactor ever misses this. This is the place to be. We're very happy the way it's managed, and the Moorpark Rotary Club does a fabulous job. We really appreciate it."
Lookabill said participating in the battles is a lot of fun for a re-enactor, but the real joy is being able to educate the public about the Civil War. He said the event also gives the participants the chance to give a Confederate point of view, something he said is not always presented in public schools.
"The Civil war continues to shape us today. There's no event in our history, including our own revolution that has shaped us as much as this war," Lookabill said. "If we can infect just a small percentage of people with a sense of excitement over this kind of history, that's really what we're here to do."
On Friday, 11-year-old Quintt Landis from Mountain Meadows Home Independent Studies enjoyed a presentation of Civil War guns owned by Steve Pavich, of Fountain Valley.
Chaparral Middle School student Nick Fanella, 13, listened to a presentation from an Abraham Lincoln re-enactor.
"I'm enjoying this today because I'm learning and experiencing the real history of our country," Nick said.
• • •
IF YOU GO
What: 12th annual "The Blue and The Gray" Civil War Reenactment
When: Gates open at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday. Battles begin at noon, 3 and 5:15 p.m. Saturday, and noon and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Veterans will be honored during a special ceremony after the first battle Sunday.
Where: Tierra Rejada Ranch behind Underwood Family Farms, 3370 Sunset Valley Road in Moorpark.
Cost: Tickets are $17 for adults, $12 for students with school ID and free for children age 5 and younger. Veterans in uniform or with veteran ID will receive a $7 discount off admission Sunday. Credit cards will be accepted.
Information: Event details are at http://www.MoorparkRotary.com. Battle background is at http://www.civilwaralliance.com/CWA/Moorpark1.html.
No comments:
Post a Comment