GLOCESTER – As America’s 250th July 4th birthday fast approaches, the Gloucester Light Infantry, an independent military organization of the Rhode Island militia that serves primarily as a ceremonial honor guard and educational group, is encouraging the public to remember the past–and is recruiting new members into its ranks. On Saturday the company held an open house at their armory and museum on Dorr Drive in Chepachet.
Included at the event was a colonial encampment, with cooking over an open fire and training to write with a quill pen. In the evening a canon salute was held at nearby Acotes Field. Joining the Gloucester Light Infantry at their events were members of the United Train of Artillery, Kingston Reds, and Warren Federal Blues.
Organized in Chepachet through an October 1774 “Act of the Colonial Legislature,” the Gloucester Light Infantry was a defender of Rhode Island during the American Revolution.
It is still led by a defender of America, Unites States Army and National Guard veteran Joshua Heywood, who is the Gloucester Light Infantry’s colonel and unit commander, and he is following in the steps of his grandfather, Alexander Tereshka, a former commander of the company.
“I took over for my grandfather,” said Heywood. Elected commander “I want to keep it going,” he said of the family and the Gloucester Light Infantry tradition. “We are kind of rebuilding the unit to appeal to a bigger audience for bigger events.”
Those bigger events mean, for example, weekend encampments and traveling around New England and beyond.
“It’s fun, and a getaway from reality for a while,” Heywood said of the weekends, and explained the participants meet people from other states and experience camaraderie, such as singing around the campfire late at night.
“We did the open house hoping to remind people that we’re here, and to introduce ourselves to those who didn’t know we’re here.”
Heywood and his troop are recruiting people “with an interest in American history, or firearms, or liberty—all that stuff” he said.
The colonel’s nephew A.J. Heywood is a member and said he enjoys “learning history and getting to meet people, as well as being with family and trying new things,.” Col. Heywood’s son Oliver, 13, has participated in the Gloucester Light Infantry activities since age five.
Judy Tereshka at the Open House was playing the role of a camp follower. These were the ladies who went along with the army during the Revolutionary War, cooking and sewing for the troops, she explained.
The historic re-enactor got involved 45 years ago, when her father, the same Commander Tereshka, and her sister needed a driver for their participation in parades, and Judy Tereshka drove the truck that pulled behind it the cannon.
She said she keeps up the Gloucester Light Infantry the tradition, enjoying “going out and meeting people.”
Interest in history “seems to be coming back,” she said.
Mike Wright’s teen son Frederick is a reenactor, and the father likes the “great camaraderie” among the troop. The son credits a teacher of his, Glen Siner, with sparking his interest in history. The young reenactor was pleased that he “got to shoot a musket.”
His mother, Kim Wright, recalls that after staying out late at a prom, her son nevertheless attended an early morning Gloucester Light Artillery event. She likes that activities such as camping are engaging and away from “electronics.”
Glocester historian and author Edna Kent said she found the colonial open house “delightful,” and that she was “happy to see the get-together and the learning of what happened in those days.”
In fact, the lifelong resident of the town shared a piece of family history that’s also American history.
The historian is descended from a grandmother named Ann Aubrey.
“She helped America win the war,” said Kent. Aubrey’s brother and father were in George Washington’s army, “and she traveled miles on her horse through snow to bring supplies, such as blankets and food, and a note to General Washington.”
Luke Wright, 17, a newcomer to the Gloucester Light Infantry, deemed the open house and the fact that he participates in the historic militia as “awesome.”
“It’s just cool,” Wright said.
Another young member, Frederick Wright, said he loves “history and the outdoors and camping.” He said he has been a reanactor for a dozen years.
“I just like history. I like to come and see my son do his thing and see the kids,” said Linda Baillie, who noted she is a descendant of various figures from that former colony in the American Revolution.
Her son, Ian Baillie, is newly enlisted in the Kingston Reds.
He said he likes “the weapons, the costumes, and the stories,” and enjoys teaching people history. Baille said he became interested partly because he likes learning about the American Revolution, and he has friends involved in Civil War re-eneactment.
Local John Boyle who brought his son Julian Boyle, 8, and Julian’s cousin Fin, 7, said the Gloucester Light Infantry open house was “pretty cool.”
“It’s interesting to see the history and see the kids experience history,” he said of the event.
Lt. Col. Brendan Mitchell of the Kingston Reds said he has been involved for 30 years.
“I grew up here at this armory,” he said, noting his father Kenneth Mitchell was a leader. “I like portraying history. It keeps me close to my parents, now deceased.”
Their son teaches the public “the stuff we don’t learn in school about history,” said Mitchell, who is also part of the United Train of Artillery.
The Gloucester Light Infantry open house was followed by Canon Salute at Acote Field.
