24-04-2025
Marshall, Texas re-enactment celebrates America's 250th anniversary
MARSHALL, Texas (KTAL/KMSS) — America 250, a celebration of the upcoming semi-quincentennial, will host events across the country until July 4, 2026.
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The first events took place over the weekend with Two Lights for Tomorrow, ceremonies and tributes to Paul Revere and the rest of the Midnight Riders. One of the most unique events took place in Marshall. Marshall was the only city in Texas to host a re-enactment.
Harrison County America 250 chair Steven McFarland planned to do a ceremony like everyone else. Talk about the history, read speeches, and praise Revere and other participants until someone on the committee pitched an idea. To have a re-enactment. With some trepidation, McFarland agreed to try.
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This idea led to many issues. How to format a re-enactment? Where to get a horse? Who to play Paul Revere? His story was immortalized in a poem by Longfellow, making him one of the most well-known figures of the American Revolution. A poorly done re-enactment could be disastrous.
Enter Longview resident Pepper Stuart, a 12-year-old with a love of history and a horse. Steven contacted the family, and Pepper had one condition: she wanted to yell, 'The British are coming.'
The story of the Midnight Riders is more complicated than that, and as Steven and Pepper talked, they devised a plan. What if she researched multiple riders and wrote speeches from each perspective? McFarland readily agreed. One of the most creative events to commemorate the Midnight Riders was largely the brainchild of a 12-year-old.
On performance night, Pepper read her first essay as Revere, then rode around the square as McFarland explained more of the history. Then she performed as Isaac Bissell, a rider who delivered mail during that time. She rode off again and returned to perform as Sybil Ludington, a 16-year-old credited with making her own ride to raise the alarm for an ongoing attack. America 250, like Pepper, was officially underway.
For information on more events, visit America 250 or Harrison County America 250.
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