Fourth of July - Chester County, Pennsylvania, 2002
Written by Tim Smith
Last night Laurel and I saw our local community fireworks display. Afterward we talked about our most memorable 4th of July, which happened in 2002. We were in Pennsylvania on the hottest day of the year where temperatures soared to 100 degrees with near 100% humidity. It was definitely hotter than a firecracker. That day we heard a patriotic speech in East Vincent Township, attended Independence Day festivities at Valley Forge, and saw a large fireworks display in nearby Phoenixville, Pennsylvania.
East Vincent Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania
First, we went to an old fashioned Independence Day memorial in East Vincent Township. This was held at the Revolutionary Soldiers’ cemetery. These were soldiers who wintered at Valley Forge but were brought to East Vincent due to sickness. There they died. Other soldiers are buried in unmarked graves up the hill in an old churchyard. A county judge gave the patriotic speech.
Valley Forge
After eating at a local diner in East Vincent, Laurel and I headed to Valley Forge for its 4th of July festivities. Laurel is shown pointing out the fireplace inside one of the huts.
The following scenes were taken outside George Washington’s winter headquarters at Valley Forge.
Down the road is the Memorial to the Unknown Soldiers buried inside Valley Forge Park.
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July 2008