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American Morning
Williamsburg Honors Original Colonies with 13-Gun Salute
Aired July 04, 2001 - 11:52 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
DARYN KAGAN, CNN ANCHOR: You know, our colleague Jeanne Meserve has interviewed some important historic figures over the years.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: Is that correct?
KAGAN: She has.
HARRIS: You don't say.
KAGAN: But I think she is topping herself today.
HARRIS: All right, let's go right to her. Jeanne Meserve is standing by with a very special guest in Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia -- Jeanne.
JEANNE MESERVE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi. I can say the only person that might have topped it was Martha Washington. I spoke with her earlier today. Patrick Henry with me now and a 13-gun salute going on right now here in the Market Square here in Williamsburg, Virginia. A cannon is being fired in honor of each of the 13 original colonies. They're reading out the names of the people from those states who signed the Declaration of Independence, and they're also playing a bit of a song.
Right now, they're honoring the state of Massachusetts, my home state, I hasten to say. Mr. Henry, tell me about the militia who is out there today. Who are these men?
RICHARD SCHUMANN (ph), WILLIAMSBURG'S PATRICK HENRY: These men here upon the field at this time are men with 2nd Virginia Regiment, part of our Virginia army. We have at this time for our defense a standing army. We also have battalions of Minutemen throughout all of Virginia, and we also have companies of militia men or riflemen who are scattered throughout the province.
MESERVE: Just a minute. We want to hear those cannons go off. They're getting ready to go.
SCHUMANN: Sounds like liberty.
MESERVE: A very familiar noise to you, I am sure, Mr. military man.
SCHUMANN: Oh, aye. MESERVE: You are, after all, commander-in-chief of the Virginia army at this point.
SCHUMANN: I was the first elected such, but I have just lately resigned my commission so that I might serve as governor of the new Republic of Virginia.
MESERVE: If I may talk to you for a moment from my place in time, there's a lot of controversy about gun ownership. Guns everywhere here today. What was the law, what was the custom regarding guns in Colonial Williamsburg?
SCHUMANN: Well, madam, since 1622, the law has required -- this our militia law -- that all able-bodied men betwixt the ages of 16 and 50 are required to bear arms at their own expense and participate in their county militias. This is the law, and this how we prepare for our defense.
MESERVE: You're required to carry them.
SCHUMANN: Quite so.
MESERVE: Now, just a few moments ago there was a volley of joy that took place behind me. This was the firing of the muskets. Tell us about that tradition.
SCHUMANN: Well, it is a custom which militaries throughout all the world, certainly throughout Europe and Great Britain to include we in the America, have been demonstrating to show great joy or celebration, especially after some great triumph or victory. It is something which, as might I dare say at least 100 years old, called the joie de vivre a French term which I would submit the French had much to do with starting it.
MESERVE: Daniel Morgan, you mentioned to me as a man who served under you in the Virginia army of whom you are particularly proud, but he is in prison right now. Tell me a little bit about him.
SCHUMANN: Daniel Morgan and his valiant Culpepper Boys are riflemen known the world over, certainly throughout the colonies, for their great marksmanship. They were journeying not too long distant in the past to liberate Quebec, and regretfully, they have been taken up by those British soldiers there.
MESERVE: Patrick Henry, thank you very much and as the festivities continue here in Colonial Williamsburg. We'll be back a little bit later with a reading of the Declaration of Independence by the mayor of this city.
Back to you.
HARRIS: All right. Thank you, Jeanne.
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