What We Did in Richmond

    The main attraction for us in Richmond was St. John's Church.  This is the church where the second Virginia Convention met in March of 1775.  This is the church where Patrick Henry made his famous speech.  The one that ends "Give me liberty, or give me death." 

The reason this speech is so special to us is because this is the speech my brother Joe is performing for the speech tournament he is in this week, which is the whole reason that we're in this area in Virginia to begin with.  :)

Anyway, we knew St. John's Church had to be a stop on this trip.  Another very cool thing is that every Sunday in the summer months and many other time throughout the year by special appointment, the church has a re-enactment of the debate that led up to Patrick Henry's speech and the speech itself. 

One word: AWESOME. 

Joe was even drafted to help perform in it!  We were walking the grounds before the reenactment and met a man in charge of the Patrick Henry Foundation.  In the course of conversation Dad mentioned that Joe had studied and performed the speech.  Evidently they always draft a member of the audience to perform the part of Reverend Selden, who opened the convention in prayer.  Joe was the right size to wear the costume.  :)  So, he got to perform in the reenactment and watch from the front row.  :)

 Here is Joe in his Reverend Selden costume with "Patrick Henry"

 With "George Washington"

 With Mom and Dad :)