Jockey Hollow, Morristown National Historical Park, New Jersey

“They also serve who only stand and wait.” – John Milton

We’ve always had the inclination to celebrate great battlefields on which heroes were asked to sacrifice their very essence for the lofty ideals set forth by our leaders. The greater the carnage, the more we elaborate. The more the earth has been turned red, the less we are allowed to forget blood’s contribution to our present state of perceived well-being. We are alive and well, speaking the language of our fathers because (we are told) many have died for our - the greater - good.

On the other side as well, the losers celebrate their fallen vowing to return the favor at some future time. Sometimes we forget to hold a grudge; sometimes we just stand there and look at where it all happened and shake our heads.

It is said that in human history one third is given war. This is why nations tend to spend millions to maintain armies that stand idle two-thirds of the time. And even that often becomes a monumental struggle. Take the winter of 1779-1780 when General George Washington’s Continental army was camped just outside Morristown at Jockey Hollow. Twelve men were crammed into each one of 1000 crudely built 14’ x 16’ structures, passing the time waiting for spring. They were woefully short of rations and warm clothing. That season, Washington’s 13,000 regulars endured seven blizzards during the month of December alone - and not a single shot was fired to advance the cause.

Under lesser leadership, the Continental Army might have fallen apart that winter. As such, it might have been denied the opportunity to favorably affect the outcome of our stand against the British. But only a hundred soldiers died; only a thousand deserted. America would go on to win the war.

Jockey Hollow Historical National Park consists of 900 wooded acres. There is a visitor’s center with vivid displays that chronicle the history of the encampment. There is a farmhouse carefully preserved in its original state with an orchard and herb garden. On weekends, volunteers dressed in period clothes recount 18th Century details of life in the Hollow. There are numerous hiking paths through the woods. A few replicas of the soldier’s huts are also open to the curious.

As a family, we’ve been going to the Park since the moving to the area. It’s practically in our backyard, after all. It’s a great place to commune with nature and one is sure to run across a deer or two if one happens to stray far enough from the road. We’ve been there in winter as well, crunching bravely across the snow while cocooned properly in jackets, scarves and mittens, all the while knowing that we would be back in our cozy home well before nightfall.

The last time we were there was Father’s Day. My now grown daughter had brought her digital camera along. Most of the pictures in this series are hers. I just had a hard time concentrating - the past and present crashing together – while feeling strangely compelled to keep my eyes on the kids.