'History Comes Alive' celebrates Roosevelt with reenactments, interactive stories

The clip-clop of horse hooves, the bang of a cannon and the music melodies of the 1800s were heard at Theodore Roosevelt Memorial Park Saturday for "History Comes Alive," a celebration of the 26th president and his impact.

The event, featuring reenactors from the Civil War era through World War I, included interactive stations like 1860s-era medical tents, period-accurate weaponry and Theodore Roosevelt-themed memorabilia. The gathering is part of a two-day experience culminating with the reunion of the "Rough Riders" — the nickname of the 1st United States Volunteer Cavalry Roosevelt led in the Spanish-American War.

"Not everybody understands what took place here on Long Island and how we are so closely in the fabric of history," said Oyster Bay Supervisor Joseph Saladino. "So, to get young people here and families to see what it was like, how they cooked, how they fought, the animals that they used and all of the technology of the time is a great way to make history come alive."

Held at the waterside park that bears Roosevelt's name, the third annual event showcased the influence of Col. Roosevelt's Rough Riders and their 1898 charge in Cuba.

William Sommer, 73, of Hampton Bays, was first a trooper reenactor in the Rough Riders and started to get called "Teddy" by onlookers and "evolved into the role," he said.

"The Rough Riders' assault at Kettle Hill put America on the map as a global leader," said Sommer. He said he's "honored" to represent the former president and hopes the event "memorializes not only Theodore Roosevelt, but the soul of America."

After the Spanish-American War, Roosevelt served as president between 1901 and 1909. He made Sagamore Hill his summer White House.

Ben Catlin, 11, of Ronkonkoma, is a self-proclaimed military historian with an interest in trench warfare who plans to become a reenactor. He was among dozens of children who watched the demonstrations Saturday. 

"I read about it, I go to all these events," he said. "I just like learning about it. When I'm not taught history, I'm always talking about, 'Hey, can we learn about some history today?' "

Traveling from tent to tent at the park presented a mosaic of America's advancements in medicine and military might.

Jim Lennon, 61, of Levittown, dressed as a Spanish-American War-era member of the U.S. Marine Corps and had tables of equipment, from American bolt-action rifles to Spanish swords. Marines were integral in establishing an area of operations on Cuba before the Rough Riders made their charge up San Juan Hill, he said.

"That's what kind of secured the Marine Corps' future in American military history," Lennon said.

The war was a learning point ahead of World War I, said Joseph Vanschaick, 41, of Patchogue, who was dressed as a member of the 71st New York Infantry Regiment, a militia unit.

"It was one of the first times the U.S. got to show their logistics," Vanschaick said. "They screwed up a lot, but they learned a lot for the future."

George Munkenbeck, Islip Town Historian, dressed as a chaplain in a mock Civil War field hospital, equipped with an amputation kit and other tools of the time. He said the war's influence on the advancement of medicine and psychiatry was immense.

"This is the beginning of modern medicine," Munkenbeck said. "Most people do not realize Civil War medicine isn't as crude as everybody makes it out to be."

Sunday's event, held at Oyster Bay Town Hall from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., will feature a symposium including descendants from the Rough Riders, town officials said.

By Joseph Ostapiuk

joseph.ostapiuk@newsday.com@OstapiukJ