He's getting ready !

It's Christmas Eve-Eve! Santa is busy today, starting to load up his pack with IC-705's, KH1s, KX2s, Penntek TR-35s, QRP Labs kits, Mountain Toppers, POTA Go-kits, paddles, antennas and all kinds of Ham goodies!

While there are no special event stations active this weekend, I want to make you aware of a very special one that starts up on Tuesday, the day after Christmas and runs through January 7th. This is being run by the DVRA, the Delaware Valley Radio Association and it commemorates the Battles of Trenton and Princeton.

Most people probably don't realize how important these two "minor" battles were to the cause of the Independence of the United States. By Christmas of 1776, things were very bleak for General Washington and the Continental Army. We had not won one single engagement since the Revolution began at Lexington and Concord and the Continental Army had been doggedly chased by the British Regulars out from New England all the way to Pennsylvania. In addition, enlistments for a majority of the Army were up as of December 31st. Morale was nonexistent and some of Washington's top generals were ready to seize his  command at the next misstep.

In a bold move, Washington decided to move the Continental Army from Pennsylvania across the Delaware River to Trenton, New Jersey and engage an outpost manned by the Hessians, who were fierce German mercenaries, hired by the British. He decided to do this under the darkness of Christmas Day evening, banking on the idea that the soldiers would be in less than optimal condition after Christmas Day celebration and merry-making.

The plan, which seemed to be an impossible task to his closest advisers worked and the Continental Army routed the German troops, killing their Commander, taking prisoners and commandeering some much needed munitions and supplies - without suffering a single casualty on the American side.

A few days later, another battle would be fought in Princeton, NJ. These two decisive battles made the overconfident British Army sit up and take notice. These Americans were serious and determined about their independence and this revolution was not going to be as easy to quell as they had thought. As a result, most all the soldiers decided to re-enlist and fight another day under the command of the General that they had come to love and admire.

These "Ten Crucial Days" are being commemorated by the DVRA with two stations W2T and W2P. There are special QSL cards available, as well as a certificate if you should desire one,

Mine, which I earned in 2019 are framed and are proudly displayed on my shack wall - Revolutionary War buff that I am. To find out more about this Special Event, please visit https://www.w2zq.com/w2t-and-w2p-special-event-stations-run-dec-26th-through-jan-7th/ for more details.

Once again, to underscore how majorly important the Battle of Trenton was to the cause of Independence, I highly recommend watching "The Crossing". It will give you a clue as to how dire the situation was, and how bold and utterly important Washington's move was. History, as we learn it in school can be so dry and sometimes just a memorization of dates. This movie will bring all this home.

72 de Larry W2LJ

QRP - When you care to send the very least!