Washington, D.C. — Local residents proudly represented the region Monday as they marched in the 250th anniversary National Memorial Day Parade, participating as members of the Virginia Regiment at the request of the American Battlefield Trust.
Two weeks before the parade, organizers realized they were short of colonial reenactors and reached out to Mayor Charles Harbaugh IV for assistance. Harbaugh, who portrays Colonel George Washington, quickly assembled a group of local historians, authors and community leaders to answer the call.
The Virginia Regiment was the only full provincial regiment raised by the Colony of Virginia during the French and Indian War, which lasted from 1754 to 1763, and it played a central role in the earliest fighting of the conflict. It is especially famous as the first military command of George Washington, who served as its colonel from 1754 to 1758.
Participants included local author and motivational speaker Jay Foreman; Clarke County Historical Society Executive Director Nathan Stalvey; Winchester Tales author Mike Robinson; and Mayor Charles Harbaugh IV, portraying Colonel George Washington.
The group marched the full one-mile parade route from 7th Street to 17th Street along Constitution Avenue. Despite early rain, skies cleared just in time for the procession.
Thousands of spectators filled the National Mall for the parade, the first major event in a series of official 250th anniversary commemorations taking place throughout the summer. High school bands from Arkansas to Massachusetts performed patriotic classics including “You’re a Grand Old Flag” and “The Liberty Bell March,” while veterans of Operation Desert Storm and the Vietnam and Korean wars waved from floats to cheering crowds.
Hundreds gathered on the steps of the National Archives, the parade’s official starting point, as announcers introduced each group marching west toward the Washington Monument.
The reenactment group was transported from Middletown to Washington, D.C., and back courtesy of Scott Fink, owner of 5 Star Executive Chauffeuring, LLC.
Information from a release.
