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Fashion revolutionaries: Fans come to Washington portrayer’s talk in period dress

Fashion revolutionaries: Fans come to Washington portrayer’s talk in period dress
Photo by Jordan Rathkopf

It was Comic Con for history buffs!

A George Washington portrayer made an appearance at the New Utrecht Reformed Church Parish House for the first president’s birthday on Feb. 11, and some hard-core tricorne hat fans came dressed up in revolutionary attire “as if in Comic Con,” their mom said.

“My sons decided to be part of it, because they love history and they love their country,” said Bonnie Lynn said.

Sons Matthew Sterling and Michael Fame came in period dress to hear long-time Washington impersonator Michael Grillo tell the first president’s autobiography in character.

The historian discussed the Battle of Brooklyn — the Revolutionary War battle in which British forces routed Washington’s troops and the general had to flee across the East River in 1776 — as well as his victorious return to New York in November 1783 and his inauguration in 1789.

Grillo, who is also a education director at the Van Cortlandt House Museum in the Bronx, hacked down the myth that Washington’s birthday (celebrated today on Presidents Day) was Feb. 22 — it’s actually Feb. 11, Sterling said. The date shifted when the country switched from using the Julian Calendar to the Gregorian Calendar, he said.

For the love of country!: Bonnie Lynn and her sons, from left, Matthew Sterling and Michael Fame took part in honoring George Washington for love of history and country.
Photo by Jordan Rathkopf