Editor's note: This article is about four re-enactors who marched the W3R. Michael Fitzgerald was not present during the interview.

If there were a commercial that featured David Fagenberg, Michael Fitzgerald, David Holloway, and Rose Morin, it would probably be something like this:

A train from Newport, Rhode Island to Yorktown, Virginia, $280; a plane from Newport, to Yorktown, $390; a road trip including gas, hotel, and food, from Newport to Yorktown, $425; marching 685 miles from Newport to Yorktown….Priceless.

David Holloway (who is a direct descendant of Gov. Jonathan Trumbull and has Trumbull as his middle name) set out with David Fagenberg, Michael Fitzgerald, and Rose Morin to march, as close as possible, the entire route marched by General Rochambeau and the French soldiers 225 years ago. "Right down to the same days and same times," said Holloway.

Rochambeau had no choice but to march his army from Newport to New York, team up with General Washington and together march to Yorktown in order to defeat General Cornwallis so America could declare its Independence. Fagenberg, Fitzgerald, Holloway, and Morin had the choice. "To pay some honor to the French," said Holloway, about why he marched the 685 miles.

While Fagenberg, Holloway, and Fitzgerald actually marched the entire route, Morin served as a Driver Support, making sure that all arrangements were set. "We could not have done this march without her," said Holloway. "She made sure that we had water, food, and most importantly got us up in the morning to continue marching."

Fagenberg said that he really had no intention of doing the entire march. "I had only planned on doing one week," said Fagenberg. "Then I added a few more days, then a few more until I decided to stay on."

To prepare for such a march, the four re-enactors consulted with podiatrist Dr. Mark Blais, currently a professor of biology at Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA who volunteers with many Boston Marathon runners.

"Dr. Blais suggested what kind of shoes we should wear down to what types of foods to eat while marching," said Morin.

The re-enactors said the people along the route were fantastic. "Many people shared their family history with us," said Holloway. Morin said she was surprised by this. "As being a part of this march, I knew it was to teach people about history, but I learned a lot of history myself from all the people I've met."

The most trying part of the march was the extreme tiredness and rain. Morin said it rained about fifty percent of the time, mostly in Delaware.

Fagenberg said doing the march was the biggest event he has participated in. "I began [reenactments] by doing Black Powder Shooting Matches, and as my love of military history grew, reenactments seemed to be my niche."

Holloway has been involved with reenacting since joining the 6th Connecticut Regiment 15 years ago and says he'll continue to reenact as long as he is able to do so. As for his next project, he says he's going to research and try to identify two French soldiers buried near Waterman's Tavern in Rhode Island, including an archaeological dig and some DNA tests.

Both Holloway and Morin attended the 225th Battle of Saratoga, at which Morin estimated a crowd of about 10,000. She said she'd like to see the younger generations become more involved in the reenactments. "We're all seniors here," she said, "and we need people to continue these events after we're no longer able."

There were numerous events and reenactments along the route, and many other marchers joined the four, varying from a few hours to a full week, but it was Fagenberg, Fitzgerald and Holloway who did the complete 685 miles on foot, with Morin providing every support necessary.

To bring the long, tiring march to a close, they celebrated with their good friend and fellow re-enactor Richard Swartwout, who drove from Rhode Island to Yorktown to meet with them as their march ended. Morin recorded the ceremony in her diary:

The Yorktown Waterfront Tavern is our next refuge, (of course!) and here, across the street on the stretch of sandy beach, is our last ceremony. Richard has brought the 6th Connecticut's regimental pewter bowl, and we fill it with the bottle of Rochambeau wine given to us 113 days ago by Paul Graham at Waterman's Tavern, our first night's camp in Coventry, Connecticut. The bowl is passed....Richard, David, Rose, Mike and Dave all sip its contents...surely the best full, rich, red wine this writer has EVER tasted....round and round until empty. We have realized our dream.

To read Morin's daily blog that was kept during the march and view pictures, visit www.marchtoyorktown.org. A copy of Morin's diary will be placed in the Smithsonian Institute. Also look for a feature article on Rose Morin in the June 2007 issue of Common Patriot.