The first complete re-enactment since 2001 of General George Washington's historic 1776 crossing to defeat the Hessians at Trenton took place today.   According to the AP there were hundreds of spectators.   I really didn't know about it or we would have made the one hour trip to see it.

Something, I'm not sure what, doesn't sit right with me about this story.   Maybe it's the fact that only a couple hundred people went to watch.   Maybe it's the fact that this gets little or no real attention when it is the single most important event in this nation's history.   Maybe it's the fact that they haven't had a re-enactment in a couple years because water levels and speeds made it unsafe.   Maybe it's the re-enactors' comments which included "Rain doesn't stop us." and "We do these things in all sorts of weather."

As I pointed out the other day in my ?"Christmas Story" posting, the original crossing was done by 2,400 men, many of whom didn't have shoes and who were cold before they climbed aboard those boats in the middle of a snow and sleet storm in the middle of the night.   The paths for those who followed were easy because they were made of the blood of those who went before.   Their bare feet were bleeding all over the place.   While I would never expect a group of re-enactors to brave such conditions, it is almost comical to note that it was a little rainy out today.   The weather didn't matter to Washington's men.   They made their crossing in all kinds of weather and with no shoes on.   But as Washington himself pointed out, the war would have been over and done with had the attack not succeeded.   It was a matter of survival for Washington and the Continental Army.   Perhaps Americans do their best work when things are a matter of survival.