Winds thwart Washington re-enactment

WASHINGTON CROSSING, N.J. – Once again, strong winds and a fast current stopped an actor portraying George Washington from crossing the Delaware River by boat.

Ronald Rinaldi II, who also played the Revolutionary War general last year, instead marched across a bridge from Pennsylvania to New Jersey on Thursday during the 56th annual re-enactment of the military leader’s daring Christmas crossing.

“We’re not going to put anyone in a position to get hurt,” said Hilary Krueger, director of Pennsylvania’s Washington Crossing Historic Park.

Rinaldi riled his fellow 130 re-enactors and put on a show for the estimated 12,000 spectators.

“Fight, men! Fight for all that you are worth, for all you cherish and love,” he said as Washington.

Rinaldi has taken part in the re-enactment of Washington’s crossing of the Delaware for the past 32 years. This year his father, Ronald Sr., and his 11-year-old son, Ronald III, joined him on the march.

“I would have loved to have crossed,” he said, “but it was still fun. It wouldn’t be Christmas without going to the crossing.”