Yorktown was the final stop on our historic trek. Today, the scars of battle have been replaced by open fields and clusters of trees. The battlefield where soldiers met and fought British troops doesn’t look much different than ordinary grassland, but we know what happened there. Our mind’s eye sees the blood of battle, soldiers behind the earthen mounds, watching and listening for the opportunity to gain ground and defeat the enemy. Not far away, a new Yorktown stands with hints of history, most notably a monument honoring those who paid the steep price of freedom and a small graveyard nestled between a local bakery and a historic church.

At the water’s edge, a small but thriving community enjoys the fruits of every soldier’s labor. Residents and visitors enjoy the beachfront, local restaurants, boating, and small shops. Today’s Yorktown is much different than it would have been those many years ago when the colony was all but destroyed by enemy fire. 

Yorktown is a reminder that all is not always as it seems. Our history is rich with accomplishments, maybe even despite our somewhat checkered past. At Yorktown, I was left to wonder what our future generations would say about the history we are making today. Will we leave them with a better world? One that is kinder? Sustainable? Equitable? Thoughtful? I wonder.