Celebrating Freedom It Carries a High Price
Our War of Independence was a battle fought by professionals on one side and by determined colonists, many farmers and shopkeepers with some soldiers intermixed.
The decisive battle was fought in Yorktown, VA, with the French fleet blocking the sea and the Continental Army encamped on land.
The Continental Army was assisted by a French force of 5,000 men and 450 officers under the command of General Jean Baptiste de Rochambeau. The had landed in Rhode Island and made a forced march in 14 weeks to meet Washington's army for the final siege and battle at Yorktown.
That march took the army right through Waterbury CT and a non-descript marker, almost completely covered by weeds is the only reminder of that passage through the area.
There are symbolic markers similar to the drum in the photo all along the 680-mile route taken in 1781. That market=r is 3 feet high and 4 feet in diameter and gets minimal notice as evidenced by the weed coverage around it.
I don't know if it is typical the rest of the way and I have seen at least 2 other similar drums along the roadway through to the State line in New York.
On their own they carry little significance to the events that will commemorate the holiday.
At the very least when viewed closely, they are a reminder that the war for our independence was not cheap and those non soldiers with their compatriots, paid a high price to set the foundation for the country we love today.
The rest of the details of that marker is the notice that there are also 2 French soldiers, unknown, resting along the roadway.
Freedom does carry a price and a moment to recognize it while enjoy the day off would not be inappropriate.
Happy Fourth of July
Celebrating Freedom It Carries a High Price
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