Last updated: July 28, 2026
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My Valley Forge Story: Marian Moskowitz
NPS/G.Purifoy
Vice-Chair Chester County Commissioner Marian Moskowitz speaks at Valley Forge's 50th Birthday Opening Ceremony on July 3, 2026.
When I was asked to share "My Valley Forge Story," I realized that, like so many of us, I don't just have one story—I have a lifetime of memories connected to this remarkable place. But one memory, in particular, stayed with me.
Several years ago, my husband, Dave, and I decided to introduce two of our grandsons to Valley Forge Park. Colin was four years old, and his older brother, Brendan, was seven. We wanted them to experience history in a way they would never forget.
Our first stop was Washington's Headquarters.
As the re-enactors described where General Washington slept, where he met with his officers, and what life was like during that long winter, Colin stood there completely absorbed. He listened to every word.
Then, at one point, the ranger said something like, "When George Washington died..."
Without missing a beat, Colin looked at us with complete surprise and announced—in a voice loud enough for everyone in the room to hear—
"Mom! Mom! George Washington is dead!"
The entire room burst into laughter.
It was one of those wonderful moments that reminds you how children experience history. To Colin, George Washington wasn't someone who had lived 250 years ago. He was someone he had just met.
That evening, Dave and I brought the boys back for one of Valley Forge's nighttime programs. We packed flashlights and a blanket, found a place to sit, and listened as the story of the winter encampment unfolded beneath the evening sky.
As I watched my grandsons listening so intently, something struck me.
History isn't learned only from books or classrooms. Sometimes it is learned by sitting on a blanket under the stars, imagining cold, hungry soldiers gathered around campfires, wondering how they found the courage to endure another day.
That night, my grandsons weren't just learning about Valley Forge. They were beginning to understand perseverance, sacrifice, leadership, and hope.
Those are lessons that never grow old. Standing there with them, I realized something I'll never forget.Valley Forge isn't just where we remember history.It's where we pass it on.
As we celebrate America's 250th anniversary, I hope families continue bringing their children and grandchildren here—not simply to learn about the past, but to experience it.Because when history becomes personal, it becomes unforgettable.