Enjoying Spring and exploring history at Stratford Hall  

The glorious Spring weather brought 94 DSDI members and their families to Stratford Hall, Va., April 20-22 to enjoy a weekend full of history and fun. We learned about the Lee family, climbed the chimney, searched for 15-million-year-old fossils, tasted local wine and examined original signatures from two of the Signers who had grown up at Stratford Hall.

After a barbeque buffet and a welcome from Stratford President John Bacon Friday evening, we enjoyed a cool evening with a bonfire perfect for toasting marshmallows and making S’mores. On Saturday morning we joined our many children to march with the militia, make drip candles, sign our names with a quill and ink, grind corn and wander through the 1,900 acres. After lunch and our DSDI Spring Meeting, led by President General Bruce Laubach, we walked on the beach and toured the gristmill. Some folks explored the area, including Lee graves and George Washington’s birthplace.

After a special buffet on Saturday evening of London broil, shrimp and roasted chicken, Signer Richard Henry Lee (actor Frank Megargee) arrived and spoke to us about his life. Lots of folks took selfies with RHLee.

Lucy Duke Tonacci