Memorial Day in Historic Varina

For Memorial Day, we headed out to Fort Harrison, part of the Richmond National Battlefield Park. We enjoyed the visitor's center, walked around the paths, and the girls completed the Junior Ranger booklet to earn a Junior Ranger patch. It's such a great way to help teach our girls a little US history.

Fort Harrison is one of a bunch of Civil War forts in the rural and beautiful Varina area of Henrico County. More Civil War battles were fought in Henrico County then in any other county in America. These Civil War forts exchanged back and forth between the Union and the Confederacy and were involved in both the 1862 and 1864 campaigns. The first Union soldiers to march into Richmond after Petersburg fell were stationed in Fort Harrison.

We also stopped by the Fort Harrison National Cemetery. We were pleasantly surprised to remember how awesome it is to see all the American flags placed by headstones in national cemeteries on Memorial Day.

One of the tasks the girls had to do to earn their Junior Ranger patch was a headstone rub. We looked up in the directory and found a solider with the last name Gates.

While trying to take pictures, I got the girls laughing so hard and it was so hilarious. We have very few pictures of the girls, especially Charly, with their true smiles.

We were so hot and exhausted by the end of the day, but it was so much fun. It was a great way to spend Memorial Day and remember all those that fought and died for the wonderful freedoms that we have today.