Steven Thomas ↑
Business owner, Pennsville, New Jersey
Is this your first time at the Battle of Brooklyn?
I’ve come to this cemetery a few times, but I’ve been doing reenactments and playing the fife since I was 10.
What group are you with today?
I’m with the First Rhode Island Regiment reenactors. We talk about Black soldiers of the Revolution, also the roles of Black people and underrepresented groups in general.
What do we need to know about military musicians in the Revolution?
First off, there’s no army without communication, so military musicians are doing that job. You can go from being enslaved and then be good at playing music and work your way up and then become a drum major and get the equivalent pay of a sergeant major. People also have a misconception about drummers. They’re like, “Oh, they’re just drummer boys,” but most of them were between 16 and 30. Have you ever seen a 10-year-old stand still? Then imagine him getting shot at and having to do a job while he’s doing it.
Frank Hadley
Water-company superintendent, Long Valley, New Jersey
Michelle Graves
Flight attendant, Newark, New Jersey
How did you get into this?
I’m a history nerd and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I’m continuing to research my ancestors. I have probably 30-plus patriots in my ancestry, and I intend to prove as many as I can.
Rachel Cockrill
Museum educator and designer, Bedford-Stuyvesant
Leslie Bramlett
Teacher, Delanco, New Jersey
Michael Deller
History teacher, Danbury, Connecticut
Any moments that have felt real?
After our march onto the field, our platoon retreated and became disorganized. We were running all over each other, sweat was dripping in my eyes, and I realized it’s the same thing these guys would have experienced. We weren’t in immediate danger, but it felt like we were in the cockpit.
Danielle Rimland
Human-resources director, Park Slope
Vaughn Stavropoulos
Musician, Somerset, New Jersey
George Tonkin
Retired park ranger, Bay Ridge
What did you pick up for lunch?
Two bagels. One with butter and one with cream cheese.
David Nelson
Retiree, Richmond
Lily Lipman
Access worker and educator, Hell’s Kitchen
Kevin Chapman
Tech sales representative, Easton, Pennsylvania
Is there any additional pressure that comes with being one of the only Black historical-interpreter groups of the Revolutionary War?
It’s hard to get new recruits. There’s a lot of trauma that comes with putting on this uniform and telling these stories, but we do this to honor our ancestors. One in ten of Washington’s Army were Black, so we want to feel part of this nation’s formation.
Catherine Amore
Preschool teacher, Sunset Park
Alice Hellman
Student, Park Slope
Michael Grillo
General Washington performer, Scarsdale
Did you know Martha Washington is here too?
Yeah, she’s my wife. We met in 2006. She was a volunteer grant writer at Fraunces Tavern. She was interested in 18th-century surgery, of all things, and we just clicked. We got married, and right away I started bringing her around as Martha Washington.
Brian Blake
History teacher, Killingworth, Connecticut
Kenneth Youngblood Jr.
Puppetry performer, Fort Greene
Steve Coe
Retiree, Windsor Terrace
What is your role?
I’m a spy. I’m portraying a wounded British soldier in hiding in a parlor of Mrs. Whetten’s house in the city. She was sympathetic to both sides, so the British soldiers would stop there. They would get fed and so forth, but she was really a sympathizer with the rebels.
Anthony Cresap
Attorney, Fresno, California
Photographs by Frankie Alduino
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If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the September 7, 2026, issue of
New York Magazine.
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If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the September 7, 2026, issue of
New York Magazine.