Freedom Fighters Remembered, History Lessons Taught On Independence Mall
By Kristen Johanson, Steve Patterson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - While some people lounge in their beach chairs down the shore, others decided to pay a visit to our city's national treasure Saturday: Independence Mall.
Memorial Day is the time to remember those who died defending our freedom, including those who served in our nation's very first Army.
The Walsh family took advantage of the beautiful weather and came to Old City for a little bit of history. Bill tells KYW Newsradio he wanted to give his kids a lesson in patriotism, and wants them to understand the true meaning of Memorial Day:
"We got the kids here, and we are walking through the story time benches. And we are about to put them through the Colonial Muster, so they are going to join the Continental Army."
Carlos and his family came in from Havertown:
"It seemed like a good weekend to come visit this historic part of Philadelphia, to see how our nation began," he says. "Benjamin Franklin was here to talk to us, which was great."
And for Brett, there was plenty to do:
"We have been going to the story time benches, we are waiting for the muster and then we are going to get ice cream."
Revolutionary soldiers grabbed the children's attention inside Signer's Park, giving them a taste of a time when the nation's first Freedom Fighters fought for liberty. They told stories, played games and described what it was like for them during the birth of our nation.
There were so many people in the area Saturday, two lines formed at the Liberty Bell because there were so many people waiting.
"We live in such a historic city and sometimes we take that for granite as Philadelphians and we don't get to see the beauty or the history of our city," this woman tells CBS 3 Eyewitness News.
Concerts, reenactments and flag ceremonies scheduled throughout the weekend.
