The 2009 American Heritage Festival

Comments from Participants, Teachers & Members of the Public

Hi everyone at We Make History!

What a WONDERFUL experience!! . . .attending your American Heritage Festival on November 15th in Queen Creek, Arizona! I brought five of my junior high Humanities students and three of their Moms to your event, and none of us were disappointed. In fact, your arts and crafts demonstrations, Revolutionary and Civil War battles, encampments, and even shopping very much exceeded my expectations. I especially loved the costumes (uniforms), each one was so authentic--I thought Robert E. Lee and Abe Lincoln were actually walking toward me in the flesh! The best advertisement you could have I think, is to tell you that every one of my students wanted to stay to the very end of the event--and so we did!

I will most definitely return to next year's festival with many more of my students. It was a fabulous opportunity to learn about, enjoy and appreciate our fascinating American Heritage.

Sandi S.

Phoenix

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

This will be my 3rd time coming to this event. I just love We Make History. It is so cool.

Thanks!

Jeannie

Arizona City, Arizona

-----------------------------------------------

Thank you for such an enjoyable day as we experienced in Queen Creek, AZ....I am a snow birder and have seen several re-enactments in my other home, The State of Washington...but your history lesson was far better than any I have seen...and the message/sermon at church was great....I am the son of a Southern Baptist Pastor, born in Arkansas and the only item missing from my memories of those church services in the south was a TENT...for Tent Meetings!!.... and a portable piano...it was great....and I do remember mother playing a portable piano that was hauled out by men to wherever it was needed....We will keep tabs of your other scheduled history lessons......I did take pictures and if any are good and you might use them, I will send after they are processed.

Again thanks.....

Ben J. & Liz

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

My dear friends,

And so another year passes and another American Heritage Festival has come and gone. Magnificent. My friends who attended this year for the first time were absolutely overwhelmed by their experience.

Thank you all so much for the work you put in to this endeavor, and for the opportunity to participate.

With deepest affection,

Trudy

--------------------------------------------------

Dear Sir,
        Thank you very much for the giving us the opportunity to be a part of the American Heritage Festival! I really enjoyed myself while I was there, and I learned a lot about life in the 18th and 19th centuries, and saw some of the reality and seriousness of the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. I look forward to attending next year!

      Daniel L.

--------------------------------------------------------

Colonel Scott & family,

It was another fabulously successful American Heritage Festival! Thank you for the wonderful weekend.

We've been to nearly all the previous festivals as spectators, but this was the first year my whole family joined with period costume and our own 'camp'. We especially enjoyed all the preparation, the research, searching through thrift stores and antique shops, the sewing, carpentry and crafting that went into a serious portrayal. We learned a lot and answered many great questions from the crowd.

The Saturday night campfire, dancing and music were delightful. At the end of each day we were all exhausted, so it must have been a success.

Again, thank you. We eagerly look forward to the next event and to next year's AHF!

Chris & Pearl M. and Family

--------------------------------------------

Dear Sir,
Thank you for putting on the American Heritage Festival this year. I greatly enjoyed being part of it and was inspired by fellow reenactors. I was encouraged to keep our heritage known in the hearts of the children in America.
During my time there, I was convicted to get my mind off of myself and my own enjoyment and instead focus on investing in others and making the time enjoyable for them. Thank you for being a wonderful example of this to me.
I look forward to participating in the event next year. I pray that God will give you strength and wisdom as you continue in your ministry.
Thanks,
Andrew L.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Hi!

I attended the festival last year and it was fantastic! We enjoyed it so much that I don't want to miss this year!
Thank you!
Natalie

------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Colonel Scott,

Thank you so much for organizing and running the American Heritage Festival. I enjoyed myself tremendously, and just loved living in a different time period for the three days. It was definitely one of the highlights of my year. I am also very grateful for the chance you gave me to act as a sergeant in the Civil War regiment. I enjoyed learning the new regimental maneuvers and would really like to pursue becoming an NCO. I am looking forward to coming back for the festival next year.
Thanks again for making all this possible for me.
May God bless you in your work for Him,
William L.

------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Lord Scott,

Thank you so much for all your work in putting together the American Heritage Festival. It was a wonderful time of spiritual enrichment. The deep campfire discussions held were amazing. (And not only the ones where you were present. The young men who camped Friday night had a wonderful conversation that jumped from politics to theology, to our love of God.)

Be Shem Yeshua.

Chuck S.

Tucson, AZ

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear General,

It was indeed a privilege to share a common duty in presenting our nation's heritage. We appreciate your leadership and work to make AHF possible. It certainly has inspired many of our group to greater excellence and dedication.

Cordially,

Col. Marshall

---------------------------------------------------------------

Again thank you for a wonderful event. I will see you again next Fall.

Have a good holiday.

Scott L.

-----------------------------------------------

General:

Excellency, the 74^th Rgt of Foot (Argyll Highlanders) and distaff thoroughly enjoyed the event and battles. Please be assured of our interest in the activities and events of the organization.

Your Ob’t Servant, Stephen A. F.

----------------------------

Hello.

I wanted to write to let you know how much fun I and the rest of our family had this past weekend and had many opportunities to learn and serve.

God has used this event for the edification of the Body and I thank Him for you and your family’s leadership.

Thank you again for the opportunity to be a fellow servant for the cause,

Always in His Grace,

Melanie J.

---------------------------------

It was a fantastic event, the best AHF that I can remember.

May God continue to bless you in all that you do.

I Remain,

YMOS,

Michael J. C.

--------------------------

We were privileged to attend the festival today and we are so grateful to you for allowing us to get a glimpse into history. We can't wait to go back next year.

For from Him and through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen. Rom. 11:36

Nicole G.

Goodyear, AZ

------------------------------------

Sir,

I just wanted to thank you for such a wonderful weekend and event, my family and I thoroughly enjoyed our time at the festival. Alas, Katrina and the children weren't able to spend as much time as they would have liked there, but they did enjoy the time they were able to spend. Both of my sisters and their families were able to make it yesterday and really liked it, and asked why it wasn't advertised because it was so neat more people need to know about it.

I also just wanted to let you know that I did enjoy my time at first sergeant, by the end of Friday I started reminiscing on my days in boot camp, in a good way.

Get some much deserved rest, and I will see you at the Victorian Christmas ball.

YHS,

Sgt. U.

----------------------------------------------------------

Hi, I just attended the Queen Creek festival today and enjoyed the Civil War re-enactments

Thank you!

Derek W.

-------------------------------------

Hi.

My family thoroughly enjoyed themselves at the American Heritage Festival. Well done!

Peace and blessings,

Cheryl

----------------------------------

Thanks for inviting us to the festival; It was truly an enjoyable and educational time for all of us and a good opportunity to meet and converse with many other like minded families. The girls have been talking continuously about the dresses, etc. I especially appreciated the presentations by Teddy Roosevelt. We will certainly look forward to future events.

Charlie and Family

-----------------------------------------

Sir,

Thanks for the opportunity to participate in the AHF, we really enjoyed it, as well as learning from the events. Our friend Joseph also enjoyed it. We will look forward to participating again in the future.

Andrew P.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear Lord Scott,

We had a really fun time at our first American Heritage Festival! After our second reenactment, we are finally starting to learn how to act as people from the past. We enjoyed seeing your family again. I really enjoyed acting in Colonial America! I did not want to change back into the Civil War once I started. I also loved making new friends.

We cannot wait for the Christmas Ball! My cousin and uncle from Indiana will be coming! My uncle got an extension on his Thanksgiving vacation so that they could come! They really enjoyed going to the Civil War Ball last Spring.

Thanks, Esther

------------------------------------------------------

Dear General Washington,

The thanks is all to you for opening up our tiny world of reenacting to see the fullest extent of reenacting that is possible. Participating in the AFH has truly broadened my perspective of reenactors and the potential we can reach. Many of the other reenactors (especially the Presidents) I encountered were an inspiration to me.

Thank you so much for the invitation to join you in AZ these past two years. Perhaps we can in a small way be an encouragement to you, too. It is always a blessing to know there are others who have caught your vision and believe in it wholeheartedly. :o)

May the Lord bless you in your many other reenacting endeavors this coming year.

For Americans from every century,

Melissa P.

-------------------------------------

Col. Scott Sir,

Thank you for your many hours of dedicated work behind the scenes to make the American Heritage Festival a reality.

Respectfully,

Paul P.

Mesa, AZ

--------------------------------

This was an AWESOME event. Thank you so much for all of your hard work organizing this event. It certainly paid off.

I Remain,

YMOS,

Michael

---------------------------------

Lord & Lady-
Thank you so much for hosting the most wonderful event of the year!

Again, I thank you so much for hosting it. We truly feel privileged to be a part of the American Heritage Festival and look forward to it every year.

Next year we will be sure to bring warm clothing in case of a cold spell - and prod the children to finish their work sooner, so that we can be sure to be in attendance for the caroling which is always so much fun!

Again, my sincerest thanks. If it were not for the efforts of you & your family we would not have the opportunity to be part of such a wonderful, inspiring and enjoyable event!

YMHS
Laurie

----------------------------------------------------------

Thank you for all your dedication and labor to make this event such a success. We enjoyed attending immensely. The boys enjoyed participating, they simply need to put more thought into their sleeping plans & provisions.

Dawn H.

------------------------------------------------------

Dear General,

Thank you once again for the good works you and your people bring to the students of our school.

I have often felt such compassion for the living historians sweltering in their wool clothing!

We look forward to seeing General Washington again in February.

Kind regards,

Mrs. D.

-----------------------------------------------------------

Dear Col. Scott

We all had a great time at the American Heritage Festival. Thank you very much for inviting us to participate. I'm looking forward to being a part of the next event when we are back in town.

Thank you,

Matthew P.

------------------------------------------------------

Greetings Sir.
Great event this year ... I think it was my most enjoyable.
Best regards,
Larry

---------------------------------------------

Sir,
Had a great time and am already looking forward to next year. As were you, I was especially impressed with the performance of the 1st Virginia and 1st Minnesota. I was also pleased with the progress shown at the Battalion level and thought you did a great job of explaining all the movements prior to us performing them.
Gary

-------------------------------------------------------

Dear Genl. Washington,

Just a quick note to thank you for allowing me to be a part of this, your seventh year of the American History Festival. Definitely was a learning experience for me!

Another great show, was glad I could be a part of it! LOL, I don't know about you, but I crashed hard on Monday!

Again, thank you.

With gratitude,

John S.

------------------------------------------------------

Hello,

My family has been blessed by your festival. Our son loves history. We'd like more information about participating with your groups.

Thank you,

Jim and Julie F.

Mesa, AZ

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Good day!
My testimony is mostly about what happened after last year's AHF. My sister, Melissa attended and came back very excited about re-enacting and we were inspired to go a step deeper with our re-enacting. So I decided to to take the jump and create my own persona. I chose to be a Baptist preacher-boy from Virginia who joined the cause of liberty in the 3rd Virginia as a chaplain.
As July 4th, 2009 approached, I asked my pastor if I could use my persona in a Sunday evening service and share a Patriotic message. He not only agreed but had me speak on July 5th... in the morning. *gulp*.
The morning service? Well as the Lord leads...
So, God was gracious enough to give me some good ideas that I could use in this message. I wanted to encourage the congregation in a way that would help them to leave the church that morning with more hope for our country then when they had arrived.
Of course, I was a bit nervous as I started, but God gave me a peace once I got into it.
First I introduced myself, (in persona) then established some foundations. I was speaking from the perspective of July 5th, 1783. I first briefly covered a history of the Great Awakening and how God used that to prepare the people in the colonies for the trials of the coming wars. also at this point I included the Gospel in a nutshell. I then spent the bulk of the time talking about the atrocities usurpations and unjust acts by the Britsh Parliament and King George and how Providence repeatedly protected the Continental Army throughout the war with His mighty hand. (Long Island, retreat after Cowpens, etc...)
I then concluded with this final thought. Providence had given us victory over tyranny. Providence had aided us in securing our God-given liberties, and here we are in 1783, at a high point in our history. But, what must we do if we ever fall away from Christ? If we fall away back to where we were prior to the Great Awakening? Let us look to the example of the nation of Israel. What was a high-point in their history? Why, what could be a greater accomplishment than completing and dedicating the Temple of the LORD to Jehovah? A high point in their history to be sure. After all the celebrations, speeches and prayers we find Solomon alone in his room at night. The Lord comes unto him and we see there in the 7th chapter of 1st Chronicles the Lord say to Solomon that if the people of Israel fall away from him, and he is forced to send famines and pestilences among them, this is what they must do: "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
We must do this individually and as a people.
I finally concluded by talking about how great this country will be and can be if we keep God as our focus.
The congregation then sang America, the Beautiful. I have to admit that even I had tears in my eyes thinking about what God had done, and what He still wants to do with the people of this land.
I apologize for my email being so long but I was led to share it with you as the AHF indirectly caused this event to take place.
It was a sincere privilege to be included in this year's AHF, and I hope to return next year.

To God Be the Glory!

Andrew P.

--------------------------------------------------------