By Sue Moore
Funding for the Vicksburg Historical Society’s Revolutionary War re-enactment, the Battle on Sunset Lake, has been secured. “We have received critical grant funding from the Michigan Humanities Council, the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation in Kalamazoo, the Vicksburg Foundation, the Vicksburg Rotary Club and Lions Club in recent weeks,” according to Ted Vliek, president of the Society.
The dates for several hundred re-enactors to descend on Vicksburg are June 25 and 26, 2016. Most of their activities will take place at the village’s Recreation Park and in the Historic Village for the public to participate in, Vliek said. Besides that, a parade from the Depot Museum is planned in conjunction with the Vicksburg Chamber of Commerce’s Taste of Vicksburg on Saturday, June 25.
Headliners for the Taste will include the Celtic Band called Father Son and Friends, which is nationally acclaimed. They will be playing on the main stage from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. The River Valley Fife and Drum Corps from Wisconsin will be leading the parade along with the fully outfitted Revolutionary War regiments. The funding from the Humanities Council and the Gilmore Foundation has been earmarked to pay these bands to perform at the Taste and during the two days when the troops will be re-enacting at the two parks.
The remainder of the funds will help with feeding the re-enactors, their gunpowder for the cannons that are expected to be on hand and liability insurance through the North West Territorial Alliance (NWTA). This organization invites its members to participate and authenticates the event by its sponsorship on their calendar. Stefan Sekula, is heading up the planning for the NWTA and the Boy Scouts of Troop 251 are helping with the logistics, according to Vliek.
Also involved are representatives of the village of Vicksburg, the Parks and Recreation committee and the Daughters of the American Revolution’s Lucinda Hinsdale Chapter in Kalamazoo. The Sons of the American Revolution chapter in Battle Creek may also assist.