Paoli Battlefield Military Timeline and Veterans Rememberance

    Improve listing Presented by

FOR  IMMEDIATE  RELEASE

Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund
P.O. Box 173 • Malvern, PA 19355 • 484-320-7173 * An IRC 501(c)(3) Pennsylvania Non-Profit Corporation
Public Affairs - James Christ – Vice President * jchrist@paolibattlefield.net*

America’s First Battle Cry - Remember Paoli!
Honor All Our Veterans on the Anniversary of the Paoli Massacre at the most pristine Revolutionary War battlefield.
Visit historic military encampments around the battlefield representing America’s fighting forces from the French & Indian War to the Korean War.  Join Color Guards saluting the fallen at each of the many war monuments on the Memorial Grounds!
Saturday, September 21st, 2013 from 10:30 am to 5 pm at the Paoli Battlefield Historical Park and Memorial Grounds on Monument Avenue in Malvern Borough.
•  Talk to Living History Interpreters • See Military Drills & Speakers
•  Enjoy Children’s Activities, Entertainment and Food Vendors
•  Event Donation $8/Adult & $5/child between 5 & 11
•  Donations support our National Historic Landmark Campaign!

PAOLI MASSACRE – THE BATTLE OF PAOLI
At midnight, near the well-known Paoli Tavern, 2,000 of the best of the British Infantry, using only bayonets and swords, savagely attacked an equal number of combat hardened American Continentals under General “Mad Anthony” Wayne.  The battle scattered the Americans who were outraged after witnessing brutal atrocities committed against their comrades.  The following day, on a bloody field, local farmers gathered and buried 52 Americans in a mass grave.  As news of the Red Coats’ savage treatment of surrendering Americans spread throughout the States, the battle became known as the Paoli Massacre.  Swearing revenge, the Continental Soldiers rallied in later battles crying “Remember Paoli.”  In 1817, on the 40th Anniversary of the battle, the Chester County Militia placed a monument atop the mass grave and built a stone wall to protect it.  Hundreds of veterans marched from the Paoli Tavern to the Gravesite and started an annual tradition of a parade and commemoration attended by thousands from around southeastern Pennsylvania.  The monument, which still stands, is the 2nd oldest War Memorial in the United States.  The annual parade, after a brief hiatus during the Civil War, was changed to Memorial Day and the oldest continuously-held Memorial Day Parade in the nation.

HISTORIC MILITARY ENCAMPMENTS
At the living history encampment, discover knowledgeable, authentically costumed and equipped reenactors portraying soldiers and citizens from the French and Indian War, the American Revolution, the War of 1812, the Civil War, World War I, World War II, and the Korean War.
VETERANS MUSTER
We ask all Veterans and their families to attend and see the place where veterans’ recognition started!  Wear any military attire for our “Veterans’ Muster” to meet old friends and new.  Veterans Organizations - call us about setting up displays and/or tables.
PARADE SCHEDULE
10:30am: To open the event, a parade of military re enactors will begin on Wayne Avenue and march onto the Battlefield. Veterans of all wars are welcome and encouraged to participate.
12:30pm: A parade will proceed around the Battlefield and return to the camp.
4:00pm: To close the event, during a march to each memorial on the Paoli Memorial grounds, members of the appropriate group will lay a wreath to commemorate the honor and sacrifice each made during that conflict. The march will proceed to the Revolutionary War gravesite and all will be invited to join in laying a wreath at the burial site to honor all attending veterans and those brave soldiers whose ultimate sacrifice served as a battle cry for the new nation, “Remember Paoli”.
ACTIVITIES
• Live fire demonstrations will be held throughout the day from each of our camps.
• Learn how to load a cannon (from Ned Hector, a Battle of Brandywine Hero)
• Hold a tommy gun and other weapons used by our military over the years
• Join in the debate with a Loyalist, a Patriot, and a Quaker to learn their feelings      as both armies descended on their towns and villages
• Talk to Ben Franklin about his experiments and learn hands-on how his inventions worked
• Learn how to make clothing and household items of the 18th Century
• Discuss strategy with the Pennsylvania Navy
FOOD AND REFRESHMENTS
Food and refreshments will be available for purchase. A shady picnic grove is available to the public.
SPONSORS
Paoli Battlefield Preservation Fund,  Malvern Borough, Paoli Memorial Association, the Philadelphia Campaign of 1777 Association (a partnership of the Paoli Battlefield, the Colonial Plantation, the Brandywine Battlefield, the Newlin Grist Mill, Historic Goshenville), Historic Military Impressions, Inc., and the Malvern Farmer’s Market.