I  had an opportunity recently to see history come to life.

We had gone to Lewis County for a weekend visit to my mom’s and found out about a Civil War reenactment that was being held nearby in Chehalis. I had no idea what to expect, but I certainly didn’t expect what we found.

It was a blast — and I kind of mean that literally, what with all the cannons going off. I have a newfound respect for Civil War reenactors. They throw their heart and soul into what they do, both on and off the battlefield. We had a chance to take a virtual step back in time and take a peek at what it was like to live back in those times.

When I think of the battles waged not only during the Civil War, but every conflict in which our country has been involved, it brought home to me how very fortunate we are that a few proud Americans — just one percent of the population — risk their lives every day for our everyday freedom.

The reenactment was sponsored in part by the Veterans Memorial Museum in Chehalis. I highly recommend anyone interested in history pay a visit to this Lewis County treasure. This nonprofit organization has collected millions of artifacts from our nation’s military history, from the Revolutionary War through today. It is an impressive collection, one that deserves your time and attention.

I had anticipated writing a whole feature on Lewis County itself, but alas, there are not enough pages this month to make that happen. A future issue, perhaps. At any rate, the museum is worth a stop, whether you’re just passing through Lewis County on your way somewhere else or as a destination in and of itself. You won’t be disappointed.

– Kathy Reed, editor