What is your age?

[Guy Gane III]

Re: What is your age?

Current age is 28.

I started running around my yard in my dad's military school (Stella Niagara)uniform and original CW stuff... at 5 years old. Haven't stopped since.... except with better stuff.

[Pvt.Tyler]

Re: What is your age?

i am 15. will be 16 in may started when I was thirteen with a local group and now I am with the Liberty Rifles.
Tyler McHone

[reb290]

Re: What is your age?

I'm 14 and will be 15 is August.

[TheRegularsDrummerCo.H]

Re: What is your age?

I started when I was Twelve. I am now 14 going on 15 in July.

____________________________
Adam Ward
Sykes Regulars.

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: What is your age?

So who is the lucky mathematician that wants to figure out the average age of the forum members thus far ?

[7thNJcoA]

Re: What is your age?

My ancestors started one at 19 and one at 24 thats who I portray since I am that age now. I have another relative the father of Sgt Miller 7th nj Co K who is the 24 year old and the father was 42 on enlistment and enlisted into the 5th NJ I am having trouble finding his real name and info. Our family has letters from them back and forth but none bear the fathers name. He is the grandson we know of Henry Miller who fought in the 2nd NJ during the revolution. Its wierd that there is just 2 small gaps and we almost have our liniage in America since 1772 when we came from Germany. I spent many hours too much my fiance says researching!

[61' reb]

Re: What is your age?

I started when i was thirteen, now i am 19.My ancestor enlisted when he was 19 and he died at 21 in Camp Morton, Indiana.

[BenjaminLDavis]

Re: What is your age?

Last year, when contesting the ground with the WIG near Rippavilla, I was
fortunate enough to portray a soldier by the name of Jabez Able - when he
fought there, he was 53 years old - at the time, I was 54. It was as close
as I will probably ever get to honoring a soldier who was about the same
age as myself. It was great!

Re: What is your age?

Started when I was 13, but my old mans pants fit me.:wink_smil
Call it 20 now. Guess i'm in the green.

[Dale Beasley]

Re: What is your age?

"For I was so much older then, I'm younger than that now"- Bob Dylan

[Abrams]

Re: What is your age?

This poll will show the obvious: Most of us are too old to be doing this, but having too much fun to quit. While I appreciate the interest of the young bucks who actually can look like a CW soldier, I also appreciate the old farts who are willing to ignore the creaking bones and stiff joints, often along with more serious health issues, to keep this hobby alive and kicking for the benefit of all involved.

Disclaimer: I'm nearly 53 yrs. old. I intend to keep at it at least until the
150th cycle ends, if I have to use a wheelchair (period correct, of course) to make it from Petersburg to Appomattox.

I am bored at work, and your post got me thinking, What is more important:

Keeping the hobby and the lessons learned during this period alive and interesting to others, to help preserve and expand the public's interest, and to help generate funds to preserve and expand the parks and battlegrounds and museums? Even if it must be done by people a bit old and out of shape when compared to the real soldiers?

-or-

Restrict the hobby to only those who have the correct physical and age impressions, or alienate those that do not fit the correct physical/age impression?

I understand the desire to represent the soldiers as acurately as possible. I also understand the realities that we do not live today like they did back then, therefore few of us would meet their standards for physical or mental endurance. Seems to me the membership and attendance at events would dwindle a lot if held to that kind of standard. There is a synergy that happens in a crowd, and I would think it best to get as many as possible to attend, both participants and the public.

I do not say we should take in anyone, or that the hobby is desperate for new members, or to lower standards in authenticity to just raise attendance numbers. That is not what I am saying.

But you are aware that the public knows we are not true civil war soldiers, and I cannot believe they would hold us to those standards. While it does fall on us to be as accurate as possible, its just not possible now to field a regiment of 17-21 year olds, as they are busy chasing girls, going to school, chasing girls, having fun with friends, chasing girls, and generally do not have the same appreciation of history as we do. I think the public, and the heros we try to portray are aware of this, and make allowances. Maybe I am wrong.

It seems to me similar to what Charles Schweitzer, a retired Army Col. told me when signing me up for the Son's of the American Revolution (SAR) about 15 years ago. I was measuring his kitchen, and he told me he had to leave for an SAR meeting, and to give his wife whatever she wanted in the kitchen. I commented that my grandma was a Daughter of the American Revolution (DAR) just making small talk. At that, without a word, he nodded to his wife who went off for the list of DARs in the area. Grandma's name was on the list. His meeting forgotten/postponed, he proceeded to list for me the info needed from me: My birth certificate, mom and dad's marriage certificate, mom's birth certificate, linking me to grandma. This was not a suggestion that I gather this info either, heh. Charles was used to being obeyed I believe, heh.

I told him I did not have a lot of time to give to the SAR's at this moment in time, so do not expect me to attend many meetings or such. He told me that the most active members were mainly old guys who still cared, and that one day, maybe I would be one of them, and could help out then.

It was more important to him to get me in the ranks. We'd determine together my role over the years. Since then, I have donned a suit, and helped replace old grave stones with new monuments, and properly acknowledge the resting places of local soldiers.

Seems to me to be a good thing to just get them involved if they have the interest, and then steer them along the path of authenticity. Show them why its important to achieve the most authentic impression possible.

But first get them in. Then make them feel welcome and help educate them.

In my humble opinion, thats what will help the hobby to grow and prosper over the next years.

Sorry my thought just grew into a novel, and probably covers ground already covered many times. I am still a new guy, and assembling my first kit yet, so what do I know anyway, heh.

[WoodenNutmeg]

Re: What is your age?

I began reenacting at the tender age of nine. Regretfully, I left the hobby around the age of sixteen to pursue, well, for lack of better words, more "teen" related things. Before I knew it, high school had ended, college had begun, and once all the school texts had been permanently placed on the bookshelves, inevitably the workforce beckoned me to her commuter nightmare. Now, nearly ten long years later, I'm back in brogans again and it feels great.

Thanks to everyone who has taken part in the poll...the information retrieved thus far has been very interesting!

[gilham]

Re: What is your age?

My first event was on my 14th birthday.I am now 29 and wondering what I am going to do when I am to old to do this.
Two of my ancestors that enlisted together were 16 and 18 in Jan. of 1862.
The younger of the two was killed while on board the gunboat Arkansas at Island #10.

[david pinkstaff]

Re: What is your age?

My Age Is 51

[flattop32355]

Re: What is your age?

This poll will show the obvious: Most of us are too old to be doing this, but having too much fun to quit. While I appreciate the interest of the young bucks who actually can look like a CW soldier, I also appreciate the old farts who are willing to ignore the creaking bones and stiff joints, often along with more serious health issues, to keep this hobby alive and kicking for the benefit of all involved.

Disclaimer: I'm nearly 53 yrs. old. I intend to keep at it at least until the
150th cycle ends, if I have to use a wheelchair (period correct, of course) to make it from Petersburg to Appomattox.