A member of the Virginia City Vigilance Committee prepares to reload his shotgun while walking in the annual Labor Day parade on Monday.
This Labor Day, Virginia City residents traveled back in time to celebrate the holiday with a Civil War filled day.
Members of the Comstock Civil War Reenactors, a 15-year-old organization, set up a Civil War are in Miner’s Park, where patrons could walk around and see how life looked like back in the 1860s. Men, women and children were all dressed to look like they were living in the olden times, complete with character names and back stories.
David Lee and his wife Dana played a nurse and a second lieutenant to recreate and better learn about American history.
“For me I have always had a love of American history and I wanted to honor my Confederate ancestors who fought and bled and died in the Civil War,” said David.
Dana said that she likes to come and act out the characters because as a teacher, it helps her and those around her learn better.
“When you can make history come alive and more relevant, neurologically you retain more of that information and you can make history more fun,” Dana said.
“It is the best way to learn,” added David. “You can talk facts and figures all day, but when you can hear the cannon and see the soldiers marching then it changes the way you see something.”
The Civil War reenactment had campsites for both the Union and Confederate soldiers, as well as famous figures such as Abraham Lincoln.
Following the Civil War Days, a Labor Day parade took over C Street, and community organizations from across Northern Nevada participated. Many union members marched for their respective industries, as well as local businesses and Storey County public safety officers.
People lined the streets to wave and watch, and kids scrambled to get the candy that many floats passed out.
“Getting the candy (was my favorite part),” said young Annalise Cronos.
There also was a battle reenactment for patrons at the end of the parade, with the Union and Confederate soldiers shooting blanks from real rifles at enemy lines. Crowds gathered to watch as soldiers shot and fell and as the Union came out victorious.
“It was really fun and neat to see the history displayed with the gun battle,” said Shelby Cronos.
