Reagan Library Partying Like It’s 1775

Even as a drum roll sounded in the distance, 5-year-old Timothy Reed couldn’t have cared less about the 18th century soldiers marching in front of him Saturday, prepared for battle. He squirmed and told his father he wanted a Coke.

But when the sound of gunfire roared across the grounds, Timothy threw his small hands over his ears and focused on the battlefield--which, in this case, was the lawn at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley.

“Did you see that?,” the Simi Valley boy asked his dad. “They’re fighting.”

The library is hosting a Revolutionary War weekend to promote a better understanding of America’s founding fathers. The event continues today until 5 p.m.

Judging from the crowds that raced to the lawn area, the highlight Saturday was the reenactment of the famous Battle of Bunker Hill, which took place in 1775 near Charlestown, Mass.

History buffs say such live events are important because so much of America’s past is condensed and glossed over in history classes.

“We’re here to educate the children,” said Glenn Gujda, president of the Burbank chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, which had dozens of members present. “We want to preserve our history so kids know really what the Revolutionary War was and what it was like to live in that time.”

To achieve that, the library’s grand courtyard was converted into miniature war camps, patrolled by soldiers decked out in the traditional red coats of the British army, while colonists dressed in blue. Women in hoop skirts strolled about, some tending to children or mingling with library guests.

A blacksmith was on hand, pouring melted lead into a cast to make bullets and buttons. And a town surgeon, played by Crestline resident Mark Rutledge, lectured in front of a table covered with hooks and saws that passed as 18th century surgical instruments. The make-believe doctor relished handling the oversized saw used to amputate the leg or arm of a wounded soldier.

“A doctor could saw straight through a bone in about three minutes with one of these,” said Rutledge. The story made listeners grimace and prompted one woman to walk away.

“That’s enough for me,” she said.

“Are you sure?,” the doctor teased. “I’ve got a special today. Bloodletting, two-for-one!”

The grounds were filled with elementary-age students from several local schools who were anxious to earn a few extra credit points.

Sarah Canfield, 10, of Simi Valley said she appreciated seeing America’s history live and up close.

“Everybody’s all dressed up and you get to see what people actually did instead of just reading it out of a book,” she said.

Most of the people posing as colonists provided a long list of details about their characters. Some facts were quirky and others academic. For example, a man named Joseph Brant not only was the leader of the Mohawks but also went to college and became a British military officer.

Event organizers expected about 10,000 people to attend the two-day event.