Picture of the day - July 25, 2007

Valley Forge National Park

Photo courtesy of Joe Volz. Pennsylvania's Valley Forge National Park is a national treasure that represents all that is good and honorable about our great nation and the brave men and women who have selflessly served and made the ultimate sacrifice in her defense since her birth some 231 years ago. The extreme hardships endured by the Continental Army at Valley Forge during that terrible winter so long ago certainly took their toll on the soldiers' health and morale, but they never gave up... And when the Revolutionary War ended with the surrender of the British at Yorktown in 1781 they had secured the precious freedoms that we Americans still enjoy today. This spectacular image of a sunny landscape and freshly painted cannons by photographer Joe Volz depicts a scene that is a far cry from the one experienced by the Continental Army during that terrible winter so long ago. We can only imagine how bleak things must have looked that winter, but along with the spring came better weather and a fresh resolve to take the battle to the enemy and accept nothing less than total victory. With this wonderful photograph, Mr. Volz has managed to capture the essence of both the hardships of war and the splendor of victory, and the following is his story behind the image: "This photo was taken Sunday, July 22 on a rare clear sunny day for this time of year here. For those who are unaware, Valley Forge is the sight of the encampment of George Washington’s Continental Army in the winter of 1777-78, during the American Revolution. The troops overcame horrible conditions and low morale to emerge in the early summer as a renewed fighting force, eventually causing the British Army to evacuate nearby Philadelphia. The park preserves the encampment area."   --Joe Volz Visit the POTD Archives for previous "Pictures Of The Day"!     Submit a photo of your own!            Why I publish the "Picture of the Day"