After Action Report for Onate Event 10/7/1606

Premise

The event was the Las Golondrinas Harvest Festival.  Our purpose was to represent a generic infantry company that garrisoned Hacienda de las Golondrinas during harvest time.  This was a dangerous time when colonists were subject to attack from hostiles who wanted to steal their crops and livestock. 

Muster

On Saturday we mustered three people: Dave and Angelina Poulin, and Tony Campisi.  Museum visitation was very good and we were constantly talking to people all day.  Visitor interest was very high.  The weather was excellent all day, not hot or cold.

Pike Drill/Punishment Detail

Tony and I represented pike men of Onate’s day.  In the morning we posted ourselves at the stocks in Baca Plaza and people saw the connection and immediately took the bait.  We must have put several dozen people including a Girl Scout troop in the stocks.  Parents quickly got the idea that they needed one of those at home.  Kids didn’t think so but they liked trying it out.  Putting Dad or Mom in there was quite a thrill too.  Probably the most common question we had was how long people were sentenced to stay in the stocks.  Another question was what kind of crimes were punished with the stocks.  Tony and I quickly realized we didn’t know much about ancient New Mexico punitive practices so we have some homework to do.

Guarding the hacienda.

Interesting Guest

Probably the most interesting guest we had all day was a Viking Reenactor from Denmark.  He showed us pictures of the longships he sailed in and the reenactment battles he attended.  The ships were totally authentic and he had sailed on them in Denmark, Iceland, and Greenland.   The battles were nothing to sneeze at either with dozens and dozens of Vikings in battle array.  He said they fought very hard.  He made his living by creating over 200 ancient reproduction pieces for museums.  He and his family made everything by hand, swords, shields, clothing etc.   The artwork itself was stunning.  I really liked the painting on the shields.  He also had carved dragon heads for the bows of ships and for museums.  He made us seem like a bunch of pikers (pun intended).  I (Dave) asked him how to say hello in Viking and he said “Hi,” so that was easy.  Regrettably, I didn’t have anything to write with so I don’t remember his name.

A visitor from Denmark.

Comida

At lunch time we took a break and the museum provided sack lunches for us.  Afterwards there was a talk by author Marc Simmons.  Angelina heard all of it but Tony and I got there late.

 

Answering questions.

Patrol

In the afternoon we went on patrol again to the mountain village - not as impressive as the last time but we still managed to make a spectacle of ourselves.  Afterwards we posted ourselves as guards in front of the hacienda.  This was a good photo op and many people took pictures. 

Conclusion

It was a Golondrinas good time.

Tony and Dave