Monroe crossing to be held

   NEW HOPE — The Coryell’s Ferry Militia will present the 23rd annual Monroe Crossing of the Delaware River on Saturday, Dec. 8.
   There will be a parade, military formation, historic reading and river crossing with a cannon demonstration.
   New Hope’s reenactment group, the Coryell’s Ferry Militia, will present the only other successful maneuver that occurred under orders from Gen. George Washington on Christmas night 1776.
   Event organizer Robert Gerenser said, “Washington Crossing has the first future president crossing the river. New Hope has the fifth future president doing the same thing.”
   This event is based upon the recollections made by James Monroe in his autobiography.
   ”We have a unique and important place in the history of the American Revolution,” Mr. Gerenser said. “All of the gathered boats that Washington used for the Christmas crossing were held and protected here at Coryell’s Ferry. The Coryell brothers were staunch patriots who knew the river and often helped Washington ship loads of men and artillery up down and across the Delaware.”
   He added, “Also, when Washington broke camp after the winter at Valley Forge in late June, the entire Continental Army, under command of the general, marched down Ferry Street New Hope. They encamped all around New Hope-Solebury High School and the public library. They then took 3½ days to cross 10,000 troops over the river.”
   The reason the Coryell’s Ferry Militia does the Monroe Crossing is to get people interested in what happened.
   Saturday, troops will assemble at Gerenser’s Exotic Ice Cream for “officer’s call” at 11 a.m. The parade will form in Odette’s parking lot at 11:45 a.m. The parade will step off at noon.
   The best viewing will be on the corners of Main and Ferry streets. The public is asked not to block the access to the park at the river.
   At 12:30 p.m., there will be a military safety inspection and formation with the reading of “American Crisis #1” by Ed Kane of the Old Fort Mifflin Historical Society. Soon after this presentation and the explanation of the mission, the troops will cross the river.
   River conditions permitting, the troops will row their replica flat bottom ferry across the river. It is planned to cross the group’s 6-pound field piece on the ferry as well.
   At 2 p.m., troops will fire the artillery from a spot just below the first pier of the bridge.
   A roast beef dinner will be served to the troops in appreciation of their service in portraying this historic event. The event is open to all 18th century reenactors and the citizens of New Hope and the surrounding areas.
   To march, people must be in 18th-century clothing.
   Mr. Gerenser said members of the public may fall in the line of march of the parade after it passes their position.
   Reenactor participants must be at the 11 a.m. officers call.
   The New Hope Borough Council is supporting this event. New Hope Police Chief Rick Pasqualini and the New Hope Police Department and constables Joe Knox and Rick Sweeney will help with traffic control.
   Tom Carrol and the New Hope streets department also are participating as well as Raritan Canal State Park officials.
   The New Hope Area Chamber of Commerce has partnered with the militia to sponsor the event and provide insurance coverage for the parade.
   For information, call Mr. Gerenser at 215-480-5332 or e-mail him at [email protected].