Historic Replicas

For Halloween every year, my brother and I coordinate our costumes. A few years back we went as Tweedledee and Tweedledum, and last year we were the Blues Brothers. We have quite the backlog of innovative ideas, and every year there is some argument about what we should be.

At a renaissance fair I attended last week, I picked up a set of replica medieval armor. The Knights of the Round Table has been on the list for sometime, and I think that the armor will be perfect. My brother is campaigning to go as Tom and Jerry, but I have a feeling that I will be able to persuade him.

Every year the various families in my neighborhood organize an elaborate reenactment of some epic battle in history. Last year we did the infamous Battle of Waterloo, and this year we turned back the clock even further, endeavoring to recreate some of the battles of the Peloponnesian War. Although some of the most famous battles were fought on the sea, we made due.

Everyone was clad in replica uniforms and outfitted with traditional Greek weaponry. The battle lasted all day, and at the end, we had a feast featuring the typical fare of the era. Not only are the war-games an opportunity to build relationships in the community, but they also teach the children some valuable history lessons.

Few events have shaped the course of American history more than the Civil War. It is virtually impossible to imagine what would have happened if the South had been able to secede or forced the North adopt their ideology. In an age where virtually all of our country’s battles are fought thousands of miles away, it is difficult to comprehend the schism that years of internal fighting created.

Evidence of the Civil War’s indelible impact on our society is still manifest throughout the country. At various locations where infamous battles were fought there are still staged reenactments featuring Civil War replicas. Although these displays offer us insight into the battles and historical perspective, it is impossible to grasp the amount of bloodshed and sacrifice that the War necessitated.