What was Forged at Valley Forge?

Ironically, Labor Day gives us a day off of labor.

We used it for our first visit to Valley Forge National Historic Park.

Pop quiz:  who won the Battle of Valley Forge, the French or the British?

It was a trick question, and not because the French have a reputation of surrender...

Valley Forge was not a battle, but a fortified winter encampment from which the Continental Army emerged a real army, with central command and control, capable of winning the revolutionary war.

Winter was typically an off-season for war, so General Washington looked for a good place with  water and wood to hole up.  They built 1500 cabins, and recruited, trained and resupplied, although  supplies were kind of spotty until spring.  The lack of good clothes and boots, and the spread of disease in non-hygienic close quarters, plus uncertain nutrition caused the most hardship and death.  Not battles.

 The rangers recreated the the look of the time and place.  And this guy was a walking encyclopedia.
  Plus he had the coolest Brown Bess: a smooth bore, 75 caliber, flintlock musket.  I'll bet it really worked, but he wouldn't let me try it...

Today the park is a pretty--and pretty big--tract of land with some monuments,

...trees, historic buildings, and picnic grounds.

The next night, despite a deluge from the remnants of Hurricane Lee,  we held a tri-ward youth activity: Philly's Got Talent.  Oh yes, it does!

After a kind of slow start, where the young men and young women tried to decide if they would be cool or have fun, they opted for having fun and really cut loose.  Justin Beiber songs were popular. And there were some very strong voices here.


We also had a karaoke machine.  I didn't know if anyone would do that sober, but here is proof:


 And here is a one man air-band:
no instrument was safe from his monumental shredding!

The judges were impressed with all of the acts,


..but audience reaction was mixed, sometimes.


The reason I was there, is I've been called into the Young Men's organization in the ward.  Here is a picture of some of the boys after a scout activity.


It's a pretty cool bunch and they haven't tortured me too much, yet, but we haven't actually been on a campout together.  The September one got Irene-d.

 
As a parting shot, it sure seems like my hair is growing faster out here.  Actually, this up-do is a shoutout to granddaughters Grace and Alice who both love their pigtails.