[Sly Fox]

OK, I'll get it out of the way upfront that we are indeed one of those homeschool families so we schedule educational stops on all of our kids. That's how we roll and we get that we are different.

With that said, we were tentatively planning on heading over to Appomattox Courthouse Saturday morning for their semi-annual re-enactment of the end of the Civil War before we head to campus for lunch & homecoming festivities.

Is anybody willing to publicly admit that they have checked this out before? If so, is it worth the investment of time?

My 3rd grade son is just beginning to move from Star Wars fanaticism into an appreciation of historical battles. So he is down with the idea and his younger sisters would probably enjoy the costumes.

What do you suggest?

[SumItUp]

Sly, we've been to the CH before. Compared to some other Civil War sites, there is not a lot to see and do, but it would be a good Saturday morning stop.

I'm a little farther north this week and I'm taking my crew to Gettysburg today.

[ATrain]

I went to the first re-enactment MANY years ago (we're talking before I was even in high school) and at the time I wasn't impressed. However, I've heard it's gotten larger over the years and it may be better now. If they've never been, I'd say go and check it out since it will teach them something about the time period and the War of Northern Aggression that Yankee carpetbaggers spin to make it look like they were the good guys

[Sly Fox]

I've been out to the McLean House a few times over the years. And I have been to re-enactments of the Texas Revolution. But I was just checking to make sure the re-enactments in Appomattox was worth the time investment.

[Cider Jim]

Sly, I'd also suggest checking out the new Civil War Chaplain's Museum, right beside Doc's Diner; there is also a huge confederate cemetery at the Old City Cemetery in Lynchburg (off of 5th Street, near the Texas Inn).

(Sly & Super, if you want to do some tailgate hopping on Saturday, come by mine on the 460 side of the Barnes & Noble parking lot. I'll have sweet cider & burgers/dogs and tons of homemade casseroles. Look for my white Toyota Tundra pickup parked next to a yellow grader).

[Sly Fox]

We went by the Chaplains Museum yesterday after picking up our registration packets at the bookstore. It was a half hour well invested. My son loved it especially the Texan artifacts from Dr. Willmington's collection (I have known him & his family for 30 years and never knew he was such a Civil War buff). I wish they would have let me take pictures inside there but I understand the policy for artifact preservation.

You can count on the Sly Fox crew doing some tailgate hopping tomorrow after we get back from Appomattox. We hope to go by the orchards Sunday afternoon as we head out of town toward Cincinnati.

[phoenix]

They've got regular re-enactors at Appomattox. There is a guy who plays an Appomattox resident who fought at the battle, and a Union soldier who was part of the "occupation force" after the war. Fascinating stuff -- both my kids loved it.

If I had the $$, I'd do re-enacting. I've thought about getting together with a unit to play a chaplain or something like that. We went to a re-enactment in Barboursville a few years ago that my son loved -- my daughter thought the cannon were too loud.

[Sly Fox]

We had a great time there this morning. Because of the festivities, park fees were waived for the day. Surprisingly there really weren't many people there in spite of the fantastic weather. We practically had the place to ourselves this morning outside of the park rangers & the re-enacters. The kids absolutely loved seeing the boring stories from their history classes come to life.

[Hold My Own]

Much respect for yall doing this stuff with your kids. Ask me who's kids do I fear for the most...kids that are raised learning history and taking field trips or those watching MTV like a zombie's. I dont even need to answer that. That's great though guys, gives me hope for our future generation.