Encampment 2015 This Weekend at English Camp

Encampment 2014 included Shirley Williams of the Lummi Nation in period dress – Contributed photo

Re-enactors from throughout the Pacific Northwest and Canada will once again celebrate peace as they gather for the 17th Annual Encampment scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, July 25-26 on the English Camp parade ground.

The weekend includes recreations of mid-19th century Royal Marine Light Infantry and U.S. Army camp life, demonstrations of music, blacksmithing, spinning and weaving, sewing, cooperage and carpentry, along with the pageantry of period uniforms in scarlet and blue. Black powder rifled musket demonstrations and the firing of howitzer also are planned both days.

Saturday (July 25) activities will include a ceremony honoring longtime park volunteer Jim Meredith, who passed away last December. Meredith could be found most summer weekends at English Camp, proudly wearing his red-and-blue woolen British uniform and explaining what it would have been like to be a Royal Marine on San Juan Island during the joint military occupation, 1860-1872. He was honored in 2013 as “Volunteer of the Century” by the park, and in 1998 was made an honorary Royal Marine by Royal Marine headquarters in England.

The Candlelight Ball features dancers in period dress, but everyone is welcome – Contributed photo

As always, Saturday will conclude with the Candlelight Ball, scheduled at 7:30 p.m., in the English Camp barracks. The public is invited to join in the dancing and refreshments that will include the traditional cake and punch. Music for contra dancing will be provided by the Pig War Band.

As it has since its inception in 1998, Encampment commemorates the peaceful joint occupation of San Juan Island by British and American forces from 1859 to 1872, and final settlement of the Northwest Boundary dispute.

Throughout the joint occupation the garrisons exchanged visits to celebrate holidays that included Christmas, the Fourth of July and Queen Victoria’s birthday. Typically the men would participate in athletic contests, imbibe in spirits and other refreshments and usually host a dance to which the community was invited.

The Encampment tradition was renewed in 1998 on the occasion of the dedication of English Camp’s 80-foot flagpole, a gift to the park by the people of the United Kingdom. The event, jointly planned by the park and Michael Upton, the British Consul General in Seattle, drew nearly 600 people to the parade ground, including distinguished guests and officials from both nations. The 2009 Pig War Sesquicentennial Encampment drew more 5,000 visitors over the two-day period.

For more information about or participating in Encampment 2014, call Doug Halsey at (360) 378-2240, extension 2228 or e-mail him at [email protected]; or Mike Vouri, 360-378-2240, ext. 2227 or e-mail [email protected].

All black powder demonstrations are done with blank cartridges on a controlled range under strict NPS safety standards.

Encampment 2015 is free. Disabled persons should call the park at (360) 378-2240, ext. 2226, or 378-4409 for special access information.

U.S. soldiers light off the 12-pound Mountain Howitzer – Contributed photo

Chris Day and Dennis Lawler provided fife and drum music – Contributed photo

Everyone participates in the folding of the Union flag – Contributed photo

Jon Marler and William Crawford represent the the positive relationship between the Royal Marines and U.S. Army throughout the 12-year joint occupation – Contributed photo

Nancy Keller-Scholz conducts her annual”Ladies Layers” fashion show, dressing a visitor from the gallery – Contributed photo

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