What better way to locally celebrate USA 250 on July 4th than invite possibly 1776 guests to the party?
At least that’s the plan for the 44th annual Revolutionary Run 10K/5K at Washington Crossing on Saturday.
The race organizing committee, directed by the Upper Makefield Businessmen’s Association, has been hard at work for many months to make this year’s event extra special.
After all, these opportunities to officially recognize the founding date of the world’s greatest democracy only come along every 50 years or so.
It’s no coincidence UMBA is shooting for that special 1776 number of race entrants because it ties into the number of the year this country was founded, not far down the road in Philadelphia with the signing of the Declaration of Independence.
And, of course, there’s the tie-in to the famous General George Washington crossing of the Delaware on Dec. 25 of that famous year in the history books.
So people already will be in a patriotic, flag-waving mood when they arrive for all the festivities.
Matt McElroy, former president of UMBA and still quite active in the RevRun’s planning, says there are a number of reasons why this year’s gathering promises to be unforgettable.
Can you think of a better way to energize a pre-race crowd than to have the “Star Spangled Banner” sung by a national recording artist with local roots such as Carol Mellor?
Or have the Color Guard from the Washington Crossing National Cemetery on hand to honor the service of people who have been in the military but don’t have family members to attend?
McElroy, a native of Kent, England, emigrated to the United States some 20 years ago and, in some ways, that gives him a rather unique perspective on how this experiment in democracy is working out after two and a half centuries.
“For me, this (Washington Crossing Historic Park, Upper Makefield Township, where the races start and finish) is kind of the (NYC) Central Park of our community,” he said. “This is a time when everyone gets involved, whether it’s the community, the police, fire, ambulance, the township, the state (DCNR), businesses as well as residents.
“Everyone is involved. It’s really the time where everyone comes together and says, ‘hey, we’re going to do this.’ And where the money goes, to scholarships, is so important. Giving to the ambulance squads, the park, all these things are really important. And people love it.”
Having the Color Guard is a natural.
“It’s the first year for this,” McElroy said. “On the last Thursday of every month at Washington National Cemetery, they have the service for people who have served in the military but don’t have any family members.
“I felt, in particular, this was really crucial to honor our veterans this year. So we decided to bring the Color Guard. They are all volunteers, all former military. They might do up to 10 funerals a day. And there’s the reenactment, which is headed by Patrick Murphy. He’s going to start the race.”
Race organizers have gone to great lengths to make this year’s races unique.
They enlisted the aid of high school students to design the T-shirts. A Council Rock South High School student, Elizaveta Kutyeva, came up with the chosen image.
“We hadn’t worked with the schools for the race before but we thought it would be a good idea,” McElroy said. “Young people are very interested in getting involved in philanthropic ideas that are really connected to the community. And I wanted this to be more connected.
“There are some really talented art students at both Council Rock high schools. Rather than going out and designing it ourselves, we said let’s get these talented artists to do the artwork for the T-shirts. Something that’s new, that’s different, that connects with the community. We got a student who came up with a great design.”
McElroy said runners are coming from far and wide for this memorable day. Some 23 states will be represented, including a couple who are making the trip all the way from Hawaii.
From the financial side of things, the RevRun is an excellent way for businesses and the community to work together on such a worthwhile project.
“That’s the wonderful thing,” said McElroy. “Some businesses have been struggling. This is a priority for them. We’ve kept the sponsorship level pretty low. It’s reasonable. All people we work with are invested in the community. That’s the great part of it.
“The RevRun is not choosing one specific thing. I think that’s really important. We need to kind of share the wealth. We get funds for Upper Makefield Township and the volunteers, which is fantastic. And Newtown Ambulance. We want them to know we really appreciate what they do.”
McElroy is confident this year’s races will reach that 1776 mark (and maybe more).
“The fact that people can spend the morning with us plays a part,” he said. “They’re able to hang around in the park. Take photographs. We’re going to have the reenactor who is going to be there.”
Things have been going so well that RevRun organizers and the local Department of Conservation and Natural Resources recently signed a new 10-year agreement for use of the WCHC.
No doubt the excitement generated by the goodwill from this year’s July 4th celebration played a hand in that.
Bucks County is playing its part to make the USA 250 recognition one for the history books.
“I think there’s an element of that,” McElroy said. “We’re going to make sure there is that connection. People do want to come here and celebrate America’s 250th. This seems like a great place to do that.
And I think the most important thing is this is for the community. I think that’s really the top priority.”
Some of the race proceeds go to scholarships for four local outstanding students.
“The goal of UMBA is to bring everyone together,” McElroy said. “It’s surreal when you see all the people out with their bells and their hoses. It makes you remember what America is. To me, that’s what this is all about. We’re all in this together. This is what America is.”
>Race calendar
Saturday
44th annual Revolutionary Run 10K/5K, 7:30 a.m., Washington Crossing. Contact www.runsignup.com
(Wayne Fish is on vacation. His column will return on July 23.)
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