![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/8e09b8488c5dcee08eb6e5b04838e63cf0-20260823-NYM-LB-Battle-of-BK-0043.rvertical.w570.jpg\")
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Steven Thomas \u2191
Business owner, Pennsville, New Jersey<\/p>\n
Is this your first time at the Battle of Brooklyn?
I\u2019ve come to this cemetery a few times, but I\u2019ve been doing reenactments and playing the fife since I was 10.<\/p>\n
What group are you with today?
I\u2019m 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.<\/p>\n
What do we need to know about military musicians in the Revolution?
First off, there\u2019s 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\u2019re like, \u201cOh, they\u2019re just drummer boys,\u201d 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\u2019s doing it.<\/p>\n
Frank Hadley<\/p>\n
Water-company superintendent, Long Valley, New Jersey<\/p>\n
Michelle Graves<\/p>\n
Flight attendant, Newark, New Jersey<\/p>\n
How did you get into this?<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a history nerd and a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution. I\u2019m continuing to research my ancestors. I have probably 30-plus patriots in my ancestry, and I intend to prove as many as I can.<\/p>\n
Rachel Cockrill<\/p>\n
Museum educator and designer, Bedford-Stuyvesant<\/p>\n
Leslie Bramlett<\/p>\n
Teacher, Delanco, New Jersey<\/p>\n
Michael Deller<\/p>\n
History teacher, Danbury, Connecticut<\/p>\n
Any moments that have felt real?<\/p>\n
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\u2019s the same thing these guys would have experienced. We weren\u2019t in immediate danger, but it felt like we were in the cockpit.<\/p>\n
Danielle Rimland<\/p>\n
Human-resources director, Park Slope<\/p>\n
Vaughn Stavropoulos<\/p>\n
Musician, Somerset, New Jersey<\/p>\n
George Tonkin<\/p>\n
Retired park ranger, Bay Ridge<\/p>\n
What did you pick up for lunch?<\/p>\n
Two bagels. One with butter and one with cream cheese.<\/p>\n
David Nelson<\/p>\n
Retiree, Richmond<\/p>\n
Lily Lipman<\/p>\n
Access worker and educator, Hell\u2019s Kitchen<\/p>\n
Kevin Chapman<\/p>\n
Tech sales representative, Easton, Pennsylvania<\/p>\n
Is there any additional pressure that comes with being one of the only Black historical-interpreter groups of the Revolutionary War?<\/p>\n
It\u2019s hard to get new recruits. There\u2019s 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\u2019s Army were Black, so we want to feel part of this nation\u2019s formation.<\/p>\n
Catherine Amore<\/p>\n
Preschool teacher, Sunset Park<\/p>\n
Alice Hellman<\/p>\n
Student, Park Slope<\/p>\n
Michael Grillo<\/p>\n
General Washington performer, Scarsdale<\/p>\n
Did you know Martha Washington is here too?<\/p>\n
Yeah, she\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Brian Blake<\/p>\n
History teacher, Killingworth, Connecticut<\/p>\n
Kenneth Youngblood Jr.<\/p>\n
Puppetry performer, Fort Greene<\/p>\n
Steve Coe<\/p>\n
Retiree, Windsor Terrace<\/p>\n
What is your role?<\/p>\n
I\u2019m a spy. I\u2019m portraying a wounded British soldier in hiding in a parlor of Mrs. Whetten\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
Anthony Cresap<\/p>\n
Attorney, Fresno, California<\/p>\n
\n Photographs by Frankie Alduino\n <\/p>\n
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\n If you prefer to read in print, you can also find this article in the September 7, 2026, issue of
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