[July 22, 2011] Peace Jubilee celebrated in Manassas Tweet Jul 22, 2011 (News & Messenger - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- "President William Howard Taft" made a late appearance in Manassas on Thursday to attend the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Peace Jubilee. Taft rolled up along Grant Avenue in a vintage automobile from the 1900s with boys in period costume running ahead. Audience members at the Old Manassas Courthouse at Lee and Grant avenues threatened to impede the president's progress as they flooded onto the street to take photographs and videos of the arrival. "Lt. George C. Round" spoke to the audience of about 300 and said, "The significance of this event cannot be overstated." The original Peace Jubilee was held in 1911 so that Union and Confederate soldiers who were still alive could celebrate the peace between the states. There were flags galore and 48 Peace Maidens representing 48 states recreated events surrounding Taft's 1911arrival. "I don't know that in that struggle each side showed a strength that neither side had known that it possessed," Taft said. A set of triplets introduced as the "Johnson Triplets" played three of the Peace Maidens in the celebration. Erica, Hailey and Savannah Johnson's great grandfather had been at the original Peace Jubilee. "We're the fourth generation of Johnsons to participate in this, and we're actually really, really happy. It means a lot to us," Erica, Johnson said. "It means a lot to represent our family as Johnsons. I think our grandfather would have been so proud right now," Savannah Johnson said. Don Wilson of Manassas endured the heat to watch the whole production with actors in period costume and more modern announcers to move the show along. "I thought it was great and a nice little drama they put together. It seemed to evoke the spirit of the original jubilee," said Wilson, a librarian in Manassas. Jessica Gurzo, a Manassas attorney, was impressed with the number of people who showed up. "I thought it was great. It was very well put together and there was a great turnout considering the heat," Gurzo said. Kevin and Deb Legg, who live on Grant Avenue, liked the fact that Taft rolled down their street. "It was very cool. I liked it. the president riding up Grant Avenue was amazing," Kevin Legg said. Senior reporter Keith walker can be reached at 703-369-6751. To see more of the News & Messenger or to subscribe to the newspaper, go to http://www2.insidenova.com/. Copyright (c) 2011, News & Messenger, Manassas, Va. Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services. For more information about the content services offered by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services (MCT), visit www.mctinfoservices.com. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]