MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND AND MORE: The Princeton Battlefield Society will recognize Memorial Day on Sunday, May 30. At an event last January commemorating the Battle of Princeton, the Color Guard of the New Jersey Society of the Sons of the American Revolution appeared in support of the Battlefield Society. (Photo by Weronika A. Plohn)
By Anne Levin
The Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) turned 50 this year. The organization’s upcoming celebration of Memorial Day weekend on Sunday, May 30, is among a series of events that not only mark that milestone, but lead up to the 250th birthday of America in 2026.
“Especially as we come up to the 250th year, we’re expanding our role in education and outreach to the public,” said Todd Quackenbush, a board member of PBS. “We’re hoping to be at a crescendo of activity by the time that comes around.”
In the meantime, history buffs have the events of May 30 to anticipate. From 1 to 3 p.m. at Princeton Battlefield State Park — site of the Battle of Princeton, the Ten Crucial Days, and the American Revolution — a roster of activities is planned to appeal to different interests.
“We have been able to put together items for a range of people,” said Quackenbush. “There is the musket firing demonstration, which is always popular. And for people who are bibliophiles and haven’t been able to get out to book sales lately because of the pandemic, we have a sale of used American history books.”
A tour of the Battlefield is planned for 1:30 p.m., and a memorial wreath will be placed by the flagpole at 3 p.m. In between, there is the sale of hand-painted miniature soldiers, maps, PBS apparel, and mementoes from the 300-year-old Mercer Oak that stood in the park until a storm took it down in 2000. The tree is associated with the memory of General Hugh Mercer, who died from his injuries after being bayonetted in the Battle of Princeton.
“A gentleman who works with us makes Mercer Oak memorabilia using pieces of the tree, either in a presentation box or in a bag with a certificate of authenticity,” said Quackenbush. “For those who have been around the area for awhile, or are just historically aware, these are nice items to have. The man who makes them actually gets inquiries from people all over the world. It’s a piece of history you hold in your hands.”
The next event in the planning stages is a July 4th celebration, details of which will be posted on the PBS website. In September, PBS will present the Mercer Oak Award to Mark and Rachel Herr, two Princeton residents who have been
supporters of the PBS and its mission. The organization hopes to return to a full re-enactment of the Battle of Princeton at the end of this year.
Looking further forward, the PBS is shifting its focus from preserving the Battlefield to telling its stories. A new exhibit planned for the Thomas Clarke House, “Eyewitness to the American Revolution,” is a series of new educational materials that document a variety of voices and narratives from both sides of the conflict.
“We want to tell the story of the revolution, and the battle in particular, from people who have traditionally been in the background,” said Quackenbush. “These are soldiers, individual citizens, people who were enslaved, both men and women — people who were affected by the battle. We don’t want to lose the stories of people who were living on the [William Clarke] farm. What were their experiences? What was going on in the area at that time?”
For more information about the May 30 commemoration of Memorial Day, visit pbs1777.org.