Col. Hand to March Once More Through Lawrence

Editor's Note: The following is a news release issued by Lawrence Township.

The 50th Annual Reenactment of the Col. Edward Hand Historic March will take place on Monday, Jan. 2, 2012, beginning at 10 a.m. in the Lawrence Township Municipal Building (2207 Lawrence Rd.).

Col. Hand as portrayed by Bill Agress will be joined by the mayor, members of council and past participants including at least one of the original marchers, to recreate the historical events that took place on Jan. 2, 1777 when Col. Edward Hand and his 1st Pennsylvania Riflemen provided the successful delaying tactics that held off the British troops preceding the Second Battle of Trenton.

This year’s event will include the raising of the flag of the 1st Pennsylvania Riflemen on the site where Col. Hand held off the advances of the British, along the Shabukunk Creek adjacent to Notre Dame High School.

The flag raising will take place at 11:30. Following the flag raising Coryell’s Militia will fire their field cannon and the marchers will then continue along the route to Trenton that Col. Hand and his troops followed 235 years ago.

Refreshments await the marchers at their journey’s end in the Old Barracks. Return transportation will be provided from Notre Dame and/or Trenton to the Municipal Building.

For more information contact Steven Groeger in the Lawrence Township Recreation Department at (609) 844-7067 or by email: sgroeger@lawrencetwp.com.

for photos and video footage of the Jan. 2, 2011, Col. Hand march.