Civil War - The Grand Review of the Troops

We pass this on behalf of our friends at The Lincoln at the Crossroads Alliance (LATCRA):

Re-enactment Parade, Concert, Grand Ball, and Day-Long Conference
for the 150th Anniversary of
President Lincoln’s Grand Review of the Troops
in Baileys Crossroads
November 11-12, 2011

(Baileys Crossroads, VA)—Plans are complete for a major 150th anniversary commemoration of President Abraham Lincoln’s Grand Review of the Troops at Baileys Crossroads, VA. The Lincoln at the Crossroads Alliance (LATCRA), in partnership with the Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) Alexandria Campus and the Baileys Crossroads Revitalization Corporation (BCRC), have set a Re-enactment of the most important historical event in Baileys Crossroads history as the centerpiece for the 150th anniversary of the event.

The parade of 70,000 soldiers in 1861 signaled to President Lincoln that he had an army ready for the difficult years ahead. On November 12, 2011, the Commemoration Parade comprised of Civil War re-enactors and current-day military units will march on part of the route used in 1861. Staging for the parade will be at NOVA’s student parking lot and the parade will be on Leesburg Pike, part of the site of the 1861 Grand Review.

The Sesquicentennial Commemorations will feature a Conference organized by NOVA at its Alexandria Campus examining the past, present and future of Baileys Crossroads. The Symposium, to be held on November 11th, will be followed by a Grand Concert at NOVA’s Schlesinger Concert Hall and Arts Center from 7pm-9pm. Activities will culminate with a Period Grand Ball at the Hilton Hotel Alexandria Mark Center from 10pm-12am.

While the review Lincoln witnessed consisted of 70,000 soldiers in seven marching divisions, the Sesquicentennial will consist of approximately 5,000 soldiers/Civil War civilians, local citizen organizations and school groups divided into five marching divisions. Each marching division will be headed by a ceremonial detachment and marching band representing each of the five uniformed services (Army – Navy – Air Force – Marine Corps – Coast Guard). The Parade will include a large contingent of active personnel from the U.S. Armed Forces and Virginia National Guard. Registration forms for Civil War Re-enactors and others who would like to participate in the parade are now available. Please visit the Re-enactors page at www.latcra.org for more information.

The official hotel is the Hilton Alexandria Mark Center, 5000 Seminary Rd, Alexandria, VA 22311. Reservations must be made no later than October 1, 2011 to obtain the discounted price of $100, including taxes. The reservation number is 1-703-845-1010. The symposium, the concert and the parade are free to all participants, but reservations for the Period Grand Ball are $26.25 with payment required by October 1, 2011.

For additional information contact Maria Elena Schacknies at meschacknies@latcra.org or 703-820-1904. For a list of events with dates and times, see the LATCRA website.