Stephanie Forbes cuddled the youngest of her five children as the toddler covered her ears to the boom of the drums.
The four older children cheered on students from Bruton High School in pirate costumes marching by on Main Street in Yorktown as part of the Yorktown Day parade.
“This is our history lesson today,” said Forbes, who home-schools her older children. The military family moved to York County about a year ago. This was their first time attending of the annual celebration of the victory at Yorktown during the Revolutionary War.
Waving small American flags, the children yelled, “Thank you for your service!” to the local chapter of Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Congressman Rob Wittman walked in front of a truck, saying “Happy Yorktown Day!” and waving to the crowd.
The children hopped up and down to a fife-and-drum march. They shared M & M candies passed out by the Children of the American Revolution group, who had a group marching in the historic parade.
The youth group’s national chapter has taken York County’s historical area on as a fund-raising project this year. It donated $25,000 this week to help add an interactive learning space to the historic area’s newest museum, American Revolution Museum at Yorktown.
Thursday’s parade and celebrations drew thousands of visitors to Yorktown’s historic area, including York County residents Larry and EuSandra Lane.
The couple clapped their hands and waved, cheering on two sons in the parade – one in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program, the other in band – both at Grafton High School.
“This is what I think of when I think of America,” Larry Lane said, noting the large, diverse crowd of parade goers of different races, backgrounds and walks of life, celebrating together.
“America is still great,” Lane said. “It’s got its issues, but it’s still great.”
EuSandra Lane agreed, saying, “We’re surrounded by history here, and it’s nice to stop and enjoy it.”
Mary Pereda and her fiance, Daniel McClelland, walked through the crowd, taking in groups in line waiting their turn to go down Main Street as part of the parade.
The couple is new to the area. Both said they were impressed with how much people enjoy history here.
“This is really cool,” Pereda said, looking at a group of women donning gowns from colonial times and men in blue, tricon hats who marched by. “It’s like going through a time portal.”
“I’m glad we came out today – it’s a beautiful day for it,” Pereda said.
After the parade, a wreath-placing ceremony was held in front of the Yorktown Victory Monument to celebrate the surrender of British and German troops under Lord Cornwallis to General George Washington’s American and French troops on Oct. 19, 1781.
As part of their history lesson, Forbes and her children toured Yorktown’s historic streets, shops and sites.
Forbes said didn’t plan to quiz the children on what they learned at the parade and other festivities, but said, “I’ll probably have them write in their journals about their experiences today.”
Yorktown Day is co-sponsored by the Yorktown Day Association, and the National Park Service, Colonial National Historical Park division.
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