Seaford Manor Students Bring History to Life

Donning Revolutionary War uniforms, students went back in time to reenact an 18th-century military encampment at their school.

The activity was the culminating event of the state-funded Living History Club, which meets throughout the year to read books about the Revolutionary War period and learn how to pitch tents, march and drill using the VonSteuben's manual for Revolutionary soldiers.  

With overnight gear in hand, the students left the 21st century and stepped back in time as Continental Army Privates. The students were greeted by Sergeants Eleanor Turino and Francine Wood, Seaford Manor School library teachers and club advisors.

The students were split into six companies, each with a specific task, ranging from armorers, who carried the musket boxes, to sappers and miners, who laid out the camp and pitched tents.

General George Washington, played by Seaford Superintendent Brian Conboy, reviewed the troops, while Surgeon General Debra Emmerich, principal of Seaford Manor School, explained various afflictions met by continental soldiers as well as their treatment or demise.  Assistant Principal Patricia Gelling stayed with the troops overnight along with library aide Janet Capestany and parent volunteers.

Seaford resident Michael Goudket from the Raynham Hall Museum in Oyster Bay, played the fiddle for the regimen during dinner. He also brought the troops their “pay” and had them sign using a quill pen.  The fourth-graders took a recent field trip to the museum to reinforce their learning of American history.

“Reliving American history is a fun and memorable way to teach the fourth-grade social studies curriculum to our students,” said Emmerich. “The program not only meets New York State standards, it incorporates other facets of the curriculum including art, music and English/language arts.”