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Boston Globe

Every year, they live and die as Revolutionary War reenactors. This year, it's special.

The soldiers on both sides are all Revolutionary War reenactors, and this recent, full-dress rehearsal for 'These were the first casualties to die for what we represent today,' said Henry Liu of the Lexington Minute Men, who will participate in his 35th reenactment earlier that day at Lexington Green, where the first battle of the Revolution occurred. 'It gives me goosebumps every year.' Advertisement For Minute Men and Redcoats alike, the extended outdoor drama is a chance to blend play-acting with a deep impulse to honor the men and women who sacrificed here, real people whom they have read about and studied. Related : 'The goal is to show people what this battle was about,' said Bob Allegretto of North Andover, who brings more than 40 years of experience to the fight, where he will portray a British major on horseback. Advertisement Valerie and Michael V. Graves portray a British Civillian Corps member and a Commanding Officer of His Majesty's Tenth Regiment of Foot at the Lexington Battle Green in Lexington. While the couple's day jobs are quite different, as Valerie is a receptionist, and Michael teaches at a university, they both enjoy being British reenactors of the American Revolutionary War. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe 'Take cover! Fire!' another British officer barked during the rehearsal, as a cluster of His Majesty's troops crouched behind a stone wall and peered into the thick forest for a fleeting glimpse of their pursuers. The reenactors run the gamut -- young and old, fit and overweight, male and female. They gather regularly from across New England to train, drill, and swap stories about a moment in history that many Americans know only through myth and stereotype. The hobby often becomes a family affair taken up by succeeding generations. The passion gets passed along, too. On April 19 in Minute Man National Historical Park, about 40,000 people are expected to watch what the National Park Service calls a 'tactical demonstration' unfold in fastidiously choreographed detail along Battle Road Trail, which stretches about five miles from Concord to Lexington. No blank cartridges were fired during the recent drill, as they will be for the crowds, but almost everything else was designed to replicate the real thing. That commitment comes with a price tag. Redcoats and Minute Men alike spend about about $2,500 to $3,000 each on period clothing, accessories, and muskets. And that doesn't count the cost of trips to venues outside Greater Boston for multi-day reenactments at Revolutionary battlefields such as Saratoga, N.Y., and Yorktown, Va. Members of the Tenth Regiment of Foot, a reenactment group portraying British troops at Lexington and Concord undergo drills in preparation for the April 19 commemoration in Lexington. Barry Chin/Globe Staff Related : 'It's an expensive hobby,' said Liu, a 59-year-old banker when he's not time-traveling. 'We used to be able to get away with linen and leather' for their outfits, but the Lexington Minute Men now require clothing to be as accurate as possible, which means wool for the coats, waistcoats, and breeches. Even the bayonets are real. Advertisement If nature calls during a break in the battle, the woods are conveniently available. And when reenactors are encamped 18th-century style, a porta-potty is often a walk away. 'We're not at the point where we're digging trenches for that,' said Becky Audette of Ayer, a co-captain of the Acton Minutemen. 'We're weekend warriors, and every one of us needs to go back to work on Monday without a broken back.' So why do they do it? Stephen Cole, captain of the Lexington Minute Men, offered a simple, direct explanation while addressing the group at a recent indoor run-through of this year's reenactment. 'The reason we're here is to honor the men and women we portray,' Cole said, a reminder that each of the Minute Men chose a specific person to represent. 'It's about keeping this alive for the 300th anniversary.' Along the way, there's plenty of fun to be had. Friendships stretch across decades, and laughter erupted when Lexington Minute Men who will die on the green were told to remain 'dead' while the reenactment unfolds. American Revolution reenactors Becky and Michael Audette stand on the Old North Bridge in Concord. The couple began reenacting in 2017 and have made their hobby a family affair. 'I think knowing your country's history is important. We never took our kids to Disney. We took them to a lot of odd places," said Becky. Brett Phelps for The Boston Globe And then there was this: 'Please do not use any modern phrases. Watch the profanity!' Jim Roberts, who turns 70 on April 19, will portray Lexington tavern owner William Munroe and call the roll of the Minute Men before the British Regulars arrive on the Green and spill the first American blood of the Revolution. Roberts, a Lexington native who joined the reenactors 40 years ago, said the spirit of Patriots Day — 'its reverence' — was instilled in him as a child while watching the town's annual parade. Related : 'It's nice to fire muskets every once in a while,' but the camaraderie is special, Roberts said. And when they re-create a Revolutionary camp, he added, 'are there a couple of coolers inside a wooden box somewhere? Yes, there are.' Advertisement That fellowship also is felt on the 'enemy' side, where the chance for Americans to wear 18th-century British military garb, load and fire a Brown Bess musket, and chase after pesky Colonials brings its own unique satisfaction, even in reenacted defeat. 'I grew up watching 'Pirates of the Caribbean' and liked the 18th century, so I had to do this,' said Tyler Salfity of Quincy, a 21-year-old corporal in the British 10th Regiment of Foot, whose historical forebears made the arduous 40-mile round-trip from Boston to Concord on the original Patriots Day. 'Honestly, it's the most fun I've ever done,' said Salfity, a history major at Bridgewater State University. 'I echo commands, yell at the guys, and tell them to get back in the ranks. I also make sure everyone has gone to the bathroom before we get under way.' Their muskets were inspected by sergeants. They formed up in ranks. They drilled with their weapons. 'We keep track of attendance,' Graves said. 'If you're going to be promoted, we want you to show up.' Not only that, but each new recruit repeats the oath of allegiance to King George III that the original soldiers were required to take, Graves said. Advertisement After the inspection, the regiment decamped to the church parking lot, where it marched under the glare of a few streetlights and rehearsed the encounter on Lexington Green, where eight Colonial militia were killed and 10 wounded. On the other side, one British soldier was wounded. Then as now, the 10th Regiment can feel the heat. When the reenactors marched in this year's St. Patrick's Day parade in South Boston, they were booed lustily from beginning to end. 'It's part of the fun. We're the bad guys, so it's only natural,' said Salfity, the British corporal. 'And it's kind of accurate, you know? Boston was not a very friendly city to the British back then, so why now?' Brian MacQuarrie can be reached at