Meet the patriotic living historians who bring the American Revolution to life one reenactment at a time
They’re partying like it’s 1776.While most will be celebrating America’s 250th birthday this weekend with sizzling BBQs and firework displays — Jack, 74, and Celeste Sherry, 71, will be donned in 18th-century attire, role-playing as Benjamin and Deborah Read Franklin.The West Nyack couple has spent the majority of their 48-year marriage participating in Revolutionary War reenactment events throughout the country.For this year’s milestone celebration, the duo has been busier than ever, as the child-free retirees will engage in 80 different colonial-themed performances, lectures and meet-and-greets throughout the country, stuffing the trunk of their Honda Odyssey with Jack’s colonial coats and Celeste’s bulky spinning equipment as they go, posing as the founding father and his wife.
Having been introduced to historical reenactments in 1978 after reading a magazine spread on the bicentennial of the Battle of Monmouth, a 26-year-old Jack suggested participating in a local costumed battle demonstration to his then 24-year-old wife, who initially thought her new husband was “crazy.”“I [said], ‘You want us to do what?!’” Celeste, a now-retired teacher and longtime theater fan, recalled to The Post.“I wasn’t sure about it at all.
But after we got involved at the same time and I got bitten by the bug, I just loved it.Maybe it’s a bit of the frustrated actress in me.”Jack spent his younger years playing a Loyalist soldier, an American colonist who fought for the British Crown during the Revolutionary War.
At the same time, Celeste acted as a camp follower, a woman who accompanied Revolutionary War armies and was tasked with domestic duties like sewing and cooking.These days, Jack devotes the majority of his colonial time to acting as Ben Franklin — a gig he picked up over 20 years ago after a colleague mentioned that when Jack turned his head a certain way, he bore an uncanny resemblance to the founding father.The then-teacher went all ...