The Turning Point Parade 2013 was the nineteenth annual presentation in the Village of Schuylerville, NY. The original idea of the parade was to serve as a public reminder of the importance of this area in the history of our country; in particular, the defeat of the British armies in 1777 and their subsequent surrender by General Burgoyne. These events have of course been deemed the "turning point" of the American Revolution, vital to winning independence from Great Britain.

What better an opportunity for participation by the Saratoga Battle and Walloomsac Battle Chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution?

This year's Turning Point Parade was "old hat" for most of our membership. But this year, the chapter's Webmaster happened to be in the area with his family visiting relatives, and was therefore able to participate in the parade, for the second time. The last time the stars and planets aligned in such a way was in 2006. What a wonderful opportunity!

The Saratoga Battle Chapter Sons of the American Revolution has participated in this parade every year since 2000. Both the community and the chapter look forward to the event each time. While the route is brief, the excitement is high. The parade participants gather at the Schuylerville High School parking lot and Pearl Street to form up the elements; clowns, antique cars and trucks, bands, fire engines, rescue vehicles, patrol cruisers, horses, bag pipers, choruses, re-enactors, Dairy Princesses, Boy and Girl scouts and many others rally and prepare for the hot, humid and sometimes wet afternoon march.

When the parade finally steps off, a parade official ensures that each unit, neatly formed up, is in the proper order and ready to give their own unique performance. Down the hill to Broad Street we go; The parade staff members working to space each group an appropriate distance apart from the group in front of it.

Unfortunately, I arrived at the staging area, woefully out of uniform (no white shirt and no regalia!) as I had not planned to march in the parade. I was cajoled, however, into carrying the Saratoga Battle standard flag (mostly I think, because the flag harness fit me, and I would be less conspicuous out of uniform). Then it was suggested that I lead our group. No pressure! Chapter President Thomas Dunne followed immediately behing me, followed by the members carrying the chapter banner, and our other members marching, including memebers of the Walloomsac Battle Chapter.

Along the route, the Schuylerville community offered its support and enthusiastic applause for each group as they passed along. The sounds of bag pipes, fife and drums, and marching bands were punctuated by the periodic volley of musket fire, a constant reminder of the parade's theme and purpose; the celebration of the victorious Battles of Saratoga and the impact those victories had on the outcome of the American Revolutionary War.

For me, this was an incredible day, and I had fond memories of my participation in 2006. To be privileged to have had this experience a second time in my own home town was indeed a blessing. All along the parade route I saw friends and relatives waving, clapping and cheering, not for me, but for the celebration of freedom and the pride we all have for being on the hallowed ground of Old Saratoga, alive and free with all of the rights and privileges of free men and women living together in the United States of America. We are indeed all sons and daughters of Liberty, blessed by the courage and sacrifice of our ancestors.

As we passed the Grandstand, we paused for our introduction, and we were all introduced as Sons of the American Revolution. I was indeed proud to be one of the representatives of our fine organization. After just a few minutes, we reached the Schuyler House. We organized the photo op with our brothers, the re-enactors and our sister chapter, Walloomsac Battle Chapter, and the parade was finished for another year.

I'm very honored to have been in town and once again invited to participate and represent the Sons of the American Revolution in the Turning Point Parade. Those of you that live in the area will continue to have this unique opportunity for years to come, near at hand, and I hope that if you have not already, you will in the future participate and/or attend yourselves. I'll look forward to seeing your faces in future parades!