WESTFIELD – As the country enters a year of celebrations leading up to 2026 and America 250, the Semiquincentennial of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route New Jersey (W3R-NJ) announces an event that is a prelude to Westfield Celebrates America 250.
The 6th annual March to Yorktown Day Commemoration & Encampment Festival in Westfield will be held on Sunday,August 17, from noon to 4 p.m.
The event will kick off at noon at outside of Westfield’s Town Hall with an opening ceremony and the playing of patriotic music followed by remarks about the importance ofWestfield commemorating when the French and American troops marched from Newport, Rhode Island toYorktown,VA(an almost 700 mile, nine state, land and water journey) to lay siege to the British forces there, securing independence for the United States. The march of the troops took place in the summer of 1781takingthemthroughseveralUnion County towns including Westfield, Mountainside and Scotch Plains on August 29, 1781. The March route was designated in 2009 as the Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail, a unit of the NationalTrail System, administered by the National Park Service.
At 12:30 p.m, the community is invited to watch or join-in the symbolic march re-enactment along East Broad Street to Mountain Ave. Wreaths of remembrance will be placed at the Presbyterian burial grounds where over 70 RevolutionaryWarVeterans, their families and other patriots are buried. The march will continue into Mindowaskin Park accompanied by the Generals Rochambeau, Washington and Lafayette, the New Jersey Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard, the Daughters of theAmerican Revolution, the New Jersey Fifes and Drums, the Miller-Cory Museum colonial living history group, women camp followers and the New Jersey Militia Heard’s Brigade.
From 1 to 4 p.m., a history-themed festival will be set up in Mindowaskin Park.Atalk onAfricanAmerican experiences in the Revolutionary War will be given by Dr. Sean Dineen, Adjunct History Professor, Kean University and disabilities advocate. The event’s signature group is The Bruce Springsteen Archives & Center for American Music. They will be on hand to share news about their mission and they will have an exhibit with engaging items. Children’s games and activities along with information will be provided by local history organizations such as the Forgotten Victory Trail Association, Westfield Historical Society, Miller-Cory House Museum, Princeton Battlefield Society,Westfield Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, West Fields Chapter Sons of the American Revolution, Sons of the Revolution in New Jersey, Washington Association of New Jersey, North Jersey American Revolution Roundtable, Fortnightly Club, Swan Historical Foundation, Trent House Museum, Merchants & Drovers Museum, Frazee House Museum, Center for Creativity at the Rialto, Liberty Hall Museum and others.
An encampment with tents, cooking demonstrations, fife and drum music, musket firing and marching drills will occur during the festival.
Food by A Taco Affair of Westfield, will be available for purchase.
This event is made possible by sup-port from Mayor Shelley Brindle, the Westfield Town Council, the Town of Westfield,andinpartbya2025HEART (History, Education, Arts Reaching Thousands) Grant from the Union County Board of County Commissioners, TheWestfield Inn, Chez Catherine, the West Fields Chapter SAR, the Westfield Chapter DAR, the Washington- Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association, New Jersey (W3R-NJ).
For more information email info@W3R-NJ.org Follow on Facebook @W3RNJ and www.w3rnj. org.
