Travis Bowman's Blog

I once heard someone lament: The moment someone truly dies is when the last living person who knew him has died. An imprint of him may live on in stories and pictures, but the essence of who he was is gone. When we grieve, we don’t just mourn the recently deceased. I think we also grieve the loss of memories of events and past generations only that person would have known – the loss of historic truth. 



My great Uncle Stuart Barret passed away on Saturday, October 12, and took with him some of that untold history. The brother of my late grandfather Bill Barret, Stuart was a veteran of the Korean War and a 5th generation descendant of Peter Francisco. He was heavily involved in the Society for the Descendants of Peter Francisco, and I was able to use the traced lineage from his Sons of the American Revolution membership to join myself and both my sons. He provided invaluable assistance with my research for Hercules of the Revolution and also appeared as a guest on my documentary.





I consider myself fortunate to have spent time with him discussing our famous ancestor, yet I know there was still more I could have learned. 



I attended Uncle Stuart's burial at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Richmond, Virginia, the same place where grandmother Barret was laid to rest three years before. Both are now interred near Rosalie Francisco Barret, my great-grandmother, and Peter's great-granddaughter. It is her name that connects me to the Hercules of the Revolution.




The Pastor's homily was truly heartfelt. His personal relationship with my Uncle was evident. He spoke highly of him, and about his time serving along side of him in the United Methodist Church. After presenting the gospel message, he described Stuart's life as one that was in close fellowship with the Lord. These were things about Uncle Stuart I had never heard before. 







After being at the burial and hearing about his faith, I greatly wished I had spent more time with him.


Following the service, I was able to talk with family members I hadn't seen in some time and some whom I had never met. Interesting how this place with its circumstances invites us to impromptu reunions of families both past and present. Each time I'm here, it's like I see things for the first time or in a new light. Maybe now I just have reason to appreciate them. This time, I noticed that Peter's descendants – my ancestors – are buried right off a street named Lafayette. 


Maybe Uncle Stuart still has a few things left to tell me.


As I said goodbye to my Uncle one last time on earth, I know also bid adieu to his treasure of memories and untold history, vaulted away forever from this life. 



Thank you for leaving me a bit of your legacy, Uncle Stuart. It lives on. 

Earlier this spring, I had the incredibly opportunity to bring Peter Francisco back to his homeland and birthplace in Porto Judeu, Terceira Island, in the Azores after nearly 250 years. What an unbelievable experience! 



One of the members of my film team, Bryan Forrest and I took a 15-hour flight to the obscure group of islands in the Atlantic Ocean. We were there primarily scouting film locations, working on the screenplay and meeting with some of the local officials about filming Hercules of the Revolution. We took hours of video footage and experienced much of the local culture, all of which will authenticate Peter’s life on the big screen. Bryan and I said "WOW!" more times in a week than we can count! God’s providence was evident.










We flew into Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel Island, then from there to Teircera. As I stepped off the small commuter plane and set foot on the ground that was Peter’s homeland, I was overwhelmed. Peter never knew anything about his roots or where he was born. I like to think that in his later years – once he was elected sergeant-at-arms for the state of Virginia – he might have had the connections and resources to help him discover it. But, as far as anyone knows, it was never anything he pursued. 



Santo Antonio – where Peter Francisco was christened



One of the first stops we made was to St. Anthony’s Parish (Santo Antonio), the small church where Peter Francisco’s birth certificate was first discovered c. 1960 by Dr. John E. Manahan. The baptismal inside that church is the very spot where Peter is believed to have been christened as baby. You won’t see it in this video, but the moment I entered this church, I started to get emotional. Ever since I first started telling Peter’s story, I have dreamed of visiting this place! 














Peter Francisco’s boyhood home



Frequently, I am asked if Peter’s boyhood home or remains of it still stand. While we were walking around with the Mayor of Porto Judeu and his wife, who spoke some English, she pointed out a specific house where some of Peter’s distant relatives lived, which might have been the Francisco family house or at least looked similar to it. We knocked on the door, and they talked to us in very fast Portuguese, but since our tour guide wasn’t with us at that moment, unfortunately, we couldn’t follow much of what they said. 



The proximity of this house in relation to the shoreline does seem to make sense.

According to the local islanders, there was one main entry point from the ocean into the town of Porto Judeu back in Pedro's day. Here I sit at the likely spot where Peter was abducted from his homeland while he was playing in the street. 











On the islands, the pace of life is much slower, more carefree, than in America. All the more tragic that Pedro’s freedom was ripped from him at such a young age. 



Goat Island – where Peter’s kidnappers likely hid their ship 



For those who have read my book, you may wonder how Pedro’s kidnappers were able to carry out their deed so stealthily. Just off the coast of Teircera Island is a set of uninhabited protrusions known as Goat Island (split rock). The mayor of Porto Judeu told me that this is likely where his kidnapper’s anchored the ship, so it would be out of sight. I promise, you will see this island in the film! 









Bringing Peter to life in his hometown – Porto Judeu 



There is an enormous sense of pride that the people of Porto Judeu feel for their native hero Peter Francisco and his connection to America. The Portuguese are no strangers to the idea of fighting for independence. Certainly not their ancestors.



Standing as Peter on stage at Associação Cultural Porto Judeu, a local theatre in his hometown, just steps from where he was born and where he played as a small boy, was an out-of-this-world experience. What a pleasure and honor to bring him back to the Azores, to Terceira Island, to the town of Porto Judeu. It has been 248 years since he was kidnapped and there is still something surreal about bringing him home. It is a day I will never forget! Following my performance, one of Peter's relatives who watched it said, "You coming here and being at the festivities on Sunday you brought our great-grandfather HOME. I think his spirit is now at peace." I could not have described it any better than that. 








 

I also had the chance to bring Peter to life at Lajes Field, the US Air Force base on the island and was interviewed on the Double D Midday Show. With all the buzz about Peter, I guess my face started to become familiar. There were times when I felt a little like a celebrity as people would stop to get their picture taken with me and ask me to sign things. Imagine my surprise when I walked into a corner store in Angra, and the clerk recognized me from one of the newspapers on the shelf! 








 

Pedro Francisco Street 



The streets on the islands are very tight yet people drive really fast because, as they said, "we know where everything is … when the cow crosses, when school lets out, etc." There are hardly any traffic lights on the whole island. I don’t think Porto Judeu has any stop lights, only stop signs. One of these streets, Rua Pedro Francisco, which is right down from the theatre where I performed, is named for Peter Francisco and commemorates the estimated year he was born (unknown at that time) and the year he died. 






Sadly, Peter never knew exactly what year he was born. Fortunately, we do!



Peter Francisco’s original birth certificate in Angra de Heroismo 



Another highlight from my trip was seeing Pedro's original birth record in Angra de Heroismo. I got to see firsthand the actual family records that Pedro Francisco was born in Porto Judeu on July 9, 1760. The Director of the Library & Archives then presented me with a certification. 











Francisco was actually Peter’s middle name. The first person who suggested this to me was a Portuguese friend of mine who works at the Pentagon. It is also on the birth record that I saw in Angra. This actually makes sense since, even today, most Portuguese have two given names and two surnames. Because his given names were all he knew at the age of five when he was abandoned on the wharf at City Point, Peter Francisco is how he came to be known in early America. 



Searching for a boy to play the part of young Pedro Francisco 



Peter Francisco was kidnapped on the Day of Pentecost from the town of Porto Judeu in 1765. Bryan and I were invited to attend a ceremony at Santo Antonio where he was baptized and where he was the day he was kidnapped. Of course, we will recreate this festive day for the movie! 



One of the reasons that we came to the Azores was to look for local actors to portray the first 4 – 5 minutes of young Pedro’s life on Terceira Island, but finding a kid to play Pedro I knew could be a challenge. During the ceremony, Bryan happened to notice a small boy squirming around in his seat. He couldn’t have been more than five. When Bryan pointed him out to me, we both immediately knew that he would be perfect for the role of young Pedro in the film. Just look at the resemblance between him and the image Dan Nance sketched during our storyboarding session just three months earlier! 









The crazy thing is that this boy’s family doesn’t normally attend church here. They were only there for the Day of Pentecost! Only God arranges these types of supernatural meetings! But wait, it gets even more unbelievable. Turns out, this little guy could actually be related to Peter’s grandmother. They share the same surname! How amazing would it be to have a relative of Peter’s portray him!? Unbelievable!



What is there to do on the Island of Terceira?



The trip certainly wasn’t all work and no play. Bryan and I took a break and got out to enjoy the whales, dolphins, and other wild life. We saw blue and fin whales thanks to OceanEmotion Azores! 



We also had the chance to watch a traditional Portuguese bullfight. Typically, you think of bullfighting at an arena. This was a little different. The bull is on a rope being held by five guys to keep it from charging anyone, but it will turn on those guys too. It runs through a blocked off street where the whole town comes out to watch any risk takers who are willing to antagonize the bull. Since I was one of the spectators in the street, I guess you could say I was matador for a day! It is like a festival, and everyone comes out for the food and fun. There were actually several people selling candy and snacks that sounded just like the guy selling peanuts at an American baseball game.







We experienced slices of the local culture firsthand, from hospitality to cuisine, including a pizza being delivered on a motorcycle and espresso “to go” in a ceramic demitasse. (No Starbucks, regular coffee, paper cups or splash sticks here!) Oh, and did I mention dairy cows roaming free? 



It was a trip of a lifetime, one that most people might only get to experience once, but I am already looking forward to returning when we start filming Hercules of the Revolution – The Movie!

Today, thousands of people will unfurl Old Glory to honor a
lesser known patriotic observance – Flag Day. As they raise the red, white and
blue, their minds and hearts will be on the nation it represents, their
homeland. Some may even silently recite the pledge of allegiance, including
that two-word phrase that always seems to spark so much controversy.




Those two words weren’t officially added to the pledge until
1954 by a Joint Resolution of Congress. They were taken from a speech with which most of us are familiar.
When Congress passed the resolution, President Eisenhower lent his support:

Look for posts like this every week on Facebook!

“In this way, we are reaffirming
the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this
way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will
be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war.”

Then, on the steps of the Capitol Building, Eisenhower
became the first person to recite the pledge with the words “One Nation Under
God.”




There is much debate about whether American was founded as a
Christian nation or is truly “under God.” Recently, I read an article published in Forbes magazine that discusses this
topic at length and argues both sides fairly well. The author, Bill Flax, concludes that
America was not necessarily founded as a Christian nation, but points to the
fact that its people were largely comprised of Christians, and, therefore, influenced
the secession from Britain, revolution, as well as the establishment of its
tenets and many governing documents. Flax also concludes, based on
evidence, that the American Revolution would not have been successful were it
not for the faith and moral principles of its people.






It is my firm belief that God had a divine purpose for
America to become its own nation, for Christian principles to define that
nation and for the collective involvement of specific people in the forming of
that nation, including my great-grandfather Peter Francisco. Apart from his
heroic contributions to the achievement of American independence, that is the
ultimate truth I hope people to take away from Peter's story, and in every medium I use that tells that story.






I also believe, as Americans who benefit from that
sacrifice, it is our duty to pass on the truth about history to future
generations, starting with our own families. 

“For what great nation has a god as
near to them as the Lord our God is near to us whenever we call on him? And
what great nation has decrees and regulations as righteous and fair as this
body of instructions that I am giving you today? But watch out! Be careful
never to forget what you yourself have seen. Do not let these memories escape
from your mind as long as you live! And be sure to pass them on to your
children and grandchildren.”  (Deuteronomy
4:7-9, NLT)

In this way, we all become founding fathers.




Let us commit to sharing and illustrating the faith of America’s
original founding fathers, her people, their unwavering courage in the face of
adversity and their conviction to establish a new nation under God.






Twitter: #OneNationUnderGod or @peterfrancisco

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/HerculesoftheRevolution

Five years ago, if anyone had told me that right now I would be in the process of writing the screenplay and making a movie based on my book, my ancestor’s life and his place in american revolution history, I wouldn’t have believed them. From the moment I started working on Hercules of the Revolution , I’ve dreamed about seeing it on the big screen. 







Original sketch of Peter and Susannah by Dan Nance, historical artist

After 2 – 3 years of getting the runaround from film producers and even signing an agreement with one of them, I realized there was only one way to make it happen. I have launched a film company – Bequest Films – to support that effort. A film of this magnitude wouldn’t be possible without investors, and no words can express how grateful I am to those who believe in me as much as this project. 



A birthday to remember 



I took the team to storyboard this soon-to-be epic american revolution film in Greensboro, North Carolina (named for the famous General Nathanael Greene), close to where Peter Francisco first swung the 6-foot broadsword. The air was crisp and damp, not unlike the conditions the soldiers experienced that squally day in March. How fitting that we would write the first lines and draw the first images of this film on February 23rd, my birthday and the same day the state of Virginia passed a resolution establishing March 15 as Peter Francisco Day. 



That Friday, we met at Natty Greene’s to get acquainted and kick around ideas. The conversation landed on the topic of war/romance films and why we like them, the perfect prelude to this journey. We spent the better part of the next day outlining the direction for the film, defining and discussing the characters, and brainstorming ideas. It didn’t take us long to spread out. 



We broke for lunch and some inspiration by visiting Guilford Courthouse National Military Park to see the Peter Francisco artifacts housed there and the Cavalry Monument dedicated in his honor in 1910. It was just the thing we needed to finish out the day laying out the sequence of scenes, sketching the action and writing the screenplay. 



Meet my revolutionary war film team 



I’m thrilled to have some super talented people on my film team. Listen as we discuss the film. 




Jess Stainbrook – Jess is an award-winning film director and producer. He has 8 Emmy Awards and 34 Telly Awards to his credit. He wrote and produced 7 Days in Utopia , which released in 2011. He received the 2012 Teddy Award from Movieguide for his work on 7 Days. He has worked with Bill Cosby, Robert Duvall, Tony Dungy, Jodi Benson and many others. His primary role will be in developing the screenplay, developing the film budget and providing investor consultation.
Bryan Forrest – Bryan is an award-winning film producer and writer. He wrote, directed and starred in The One Lamb, which opened in 32 states in 2009 and continues to air on TBN and other networks. His DVD is distributed through Thomas Nelson. His primary role will be in writing the screenplay.
Dan Nance – Dan is an award-winning Revolutionary War artist. He majored in film at Pratt Institute in New York. He's consulted on several films, including The Patriot. His primary role as visual consultant will be in developing the storyboard for the screenplay.  
Heather Walls – Heather is one of the co-authors of Hercules of the Revolution. She spent over a year re-working the book to enhance the love story between Peter and Susannah, further develop the characters and adding detailed description of food, décor and setting. She is one of the few people who know Peter’s story as well as I do. She is a gifted writer with a background in publishing whose primary focus will be on adapting the love story for the screen. 



Here is the film team, minus Jess Stainbrook, taken at Guilford Courthouse, where I also filmed my documentary. We will be sending the final storyboard draft to Jess for his review. 











You have no idea how geeked up I am right now! But I definitely want to hear from you, so leave a comment here telling me what your favorite war/romance film is and, for those who have read Hercules of the Revolution, why or what scenes from my book you would like to see in the film!

I was invited to be the grand marshal in the Buckingham Day Parade on May 14. Peter Francisco resided in Buckingham County most of his life. It was a lot of fun, but unfortunately I only took pictures before and after the parade. This was my first time riding a horse with the 6' broadsword strapped to my back. Good times!










This was Friday evening before the parade when Trampas and I first met. What a great horse! We had to figure out how the 6' broadsword would do with the horse.



On Friday night before the parade I went to Mitch's horse ranch to check out the horses. He had this cool stage coach which he built from scratch for some movies that his horses have been a part of. Hmmmm... 












Trampas was the largest horse that Mitch owned and he did just great for me. He and I were like peas and carrots. :0)











This was the first time riding a horse as Peter Francisco so this was a LOT of fun for me!









I don't know if that is a little rain on the camera but I love this close up of Trampas and I.









This older gentleman was in the parade and he really wanted me to get on his horse so that he could have a picture. I thought that was funny but I complied. Uh ... little small.









Mitch and his dad were the father/son team who own the horses. Mitch is dressed as a Virginia Mountain Man (like John Allen in my book) and he rode along side of me so that nothing crazy happened. Of course, I'm not the most experienced horse rider in the world.









Here is a Confederate gray horse that my cousin had suggested I ride. I had originally wanted white because that is the color of the horse depicted in the 1814 engraving by D. Edwin of Francisco's Fight.  But, the brown horse was the largest horse they had. A horse is a horse, of course!







This gal Paige is from an Indian tribe in North Carolina. I loved her outfit!









Bob has been in some western films. I love this shot of him looking like the Sundance Kid.















And ... we're off!







The book signing afterwards was a lot of fun too. I had a family of about six children ask me to tell them the story of Peter Francisco because they live on Francisco Road in Buckingham. I was amazed that they didn't know any of Peter's story.







What color horses do you think Peter had?

For nearly 60 years, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Virginia have observed March 15 as Peter Francisco Day to honor my ancestor, the Portuguese-born patriot, who was kidnapped and abandoned by pirates, then bought as a slave. He won his personal freedom and, ultimately, that of a nation, by enlisting and serving in the Continental Army. March 15, 1781, was the date of the Battle of Guilford Court House in North Carolina, during which Peter Francisco fought with fury unparalleled in military history. Wielding the incredible six-foot broadsword fashioned for him by George Washington, Peter cut down eleven British Grenadiers.









The First Peter Francisco Day

The Honorable Edmond Dinis of New Bedford, Massachusetts, where Peter Francisco Square stands, was the first to file legislation designating the date in 1953. Dinis realized that despite Peter Francisco’s heroic contributions for American freedom and independence, he was becoming a "forgotten man." He also knew that those in the area, including thousands of Portuguese-Americans, would wish to remember and honor those whose sacrifices established the United States of America.




Then-Governor John A. Volpe signed the proclamation into law, proclaiming the first Peter Francisco Day on March 15, 1962. Rhode Island and Virginia soon followed. As a sixth generation descendant of Peter Francisco and North Carolina resident, I have been lobbying for the same legislation to be passed in that state.




Peter Francisco – Hercules of the Revolution

Peter Francisco was called the "Hercules of the Revolution" because of his enormous size, massive strength, and unbelievable bravery. George Washington had a six-foot broadsword made for him and even made the claim that we would have likely lost the whole Revolutionary War without Peter Francisco. His legacy continues today with five monuments that stand in his honor and a US bicentennial stamp that enshrined him in 1976, in addition to the three states that observe Peter Francisco Day. "Peter Francisco’s story is not just another legend from the battlefields of the Revolution," says bestselling author and film producer Robert Whitlow. "This truly is the American Braveheart story!"




Commemorate Peter Francisco Day by sending a Peter Francisco e-card.

Man, this has been one crazy summer! Between speaking engagement and family trips, I haven’t had much down time. Sorry for the delay between posts! Somewhere in there, with help, I was able achieve a few important milestones: 

The manuscript revision for book one is being finalized and reviewed as I type this. We’ve added over 100 pages! Signing with a publisher is within sight!
Update June 2012: The film company decided to pass on the option to produce the movie. After speaking with numerous companies, I decided to independently produce the film with guidance from other producers. I'm driven to see it released in 2015, but it will take a lot of time and money. If you would like to invest, please e-mail me.  I signed a deal with a film company out in L.A. to produce a feature film based on my book. We will be starting on the screenplay within the next few months! Good news for all of you who’ve been asking about a Hercules movie! 
I delivered my first sermon on sacrifice at Forest Lake Baptist Church using Peter’s story as an illustration. (I’ll be doing the same thing on Sept. 11 for a group of firefighters and police officers in Ohio! What an honor!) 
My paperwork tracing my lineage back to Peter Francisco was approved. I am now a proud member of the Sons of the American Revolution, joining men like Dwight D. Eisenhower, General McArthur, General Patton, George W. Bush, George H.W. Bush, Theodore Roosevelt, and many others. The actual ceremony will be in November.


Thanks to everyone who’s been following along! Here are some highlights from the summer. 



After a Father's Day weekend camping trip with my dad, brothers, and nephews, I took Austin and Josh to an important historical site - Thomas Jefferson's Monticello. One of my future books about Peter Francisco will likely include a description of this property. 











It’s always fun being a tourist in my home state: Maryland. Some of my family still lives there. We ate crabs, went to an O’s game, and even visited Ft. McHenry — birthplace of the national anthem — where I got some good ideas for book three in the Hercules series! There is a great story of Peter Francisco hoisting a cannon, which the post office put on a 1976 stamp. So, of course, I had to give this a shot myself. 









While in Baltimore, I had the opportunity to speak at St. Elizabeth School, where my sister teaches, and again in Elkridge, Maryland, at Open Door Bible Church. Not very large crowds, but now a few more people know about Peter Francisco! 








Check out all the pics from St. Elizabeth’s School and Elkridge: Facebook | Flickr 




We also visited friends and family in PA, NY and Virginia all in one week! Among the highlights was a trip to Niagara Falls. 









I also had the opportunity to speak about sacrifice at the county fair in Montrose, PA and Forest Lake Church, where my ninth grade basketball coach is now pastor. 









Check out all the pictures from Forest Lake Church: Facebook | Flickr




I also had a business trip out west to Colorado and Wyoming and was able to knock two historic landmarks off my bucket list: Pike’s Peak and Old Faithful!



I took the cog rail up to Pike's Peak - a whopping 14,110' in the sky! At the top, I was short on breath, and it made me wonder if this what a panic attack feels like! I never knew it, but "America the Beautiful" was written from Pike's Peak. Makes sense, though, doesn't it?









Fast forward to Wyoming. I drove five hours North to Yellowstone National Park. Below is a close shot of Old Faithful. There were probably 300 or 400 people waiting to see it go when I was there. Definitely worth waiting for. Amazing they know exactly when that is going to go off! The precision of that geyser, not to mention its name, really made me stop and think about God's faithfulness.









Although it sounds a lot like the question a teacher would ask on the first day of school, I'm still interested: How did you spend your summer? And, more importantly, what did you learn?

It's hard to believe 10 years have passed since that tragic events of September 11, 2001. I was
at home in Bonney Lake, Washington, at the time, long before my epiphany about my ancestor Peter Francisco.
Michelle was home with the boys, Austin then two and Josh a newborn. I was about to go meet with a client when I heard about the plane
hitting the North Tower at the World Trade Center. Like many, I thought
it was an accident at first. But when the second plane hit the South
Tower, I realized it was much more than that. I was hit with a wave of emotion. At first I felt numb with disbelief that this was really happening and helpless to do anything. That quickly turned into sadness when the towers fell and the Pentagon was hit, and I came to grips with the harsh reality of life lost. Then I was just angry. Angry that terrorists had found a way to get to us. Angry that anyone could think so little of human life. Angry that the many brave and selfless who had come to aid in the rescue had become unintended casualties. All I could think was: this means war.



Looking back, I wonder now if my sentiments on September 11 mirrored at all those of the people who lived and survived alongside battlefields and skirmishes of those long-ago wars, including the Revolutionary War. Some joined the cause in attempt to keep the fighting from reaching their homeland. Others came simply to aid the wounded. Some were just too close to the fighting. Theirs was an innocent sacrifice.




These were the feelings that influenced me when I was invited to speak at Dayton Ave Baptist Church in Xenia, Ohio, on September 11 to a crowd of America's finest police officers and firefighters. Pastor Jon Young honored the officers with a gift from the church.









My sermon was on Honoring Their Sacrifice, and I delivered it as Peter
Francisco set in the year 1800. The political climate would have seemed familiar. Candidates for that year's election were campaigning hard for votes. The nation was at war. The government was struggling to pay for out-of-control debt. The Alien & Sedition Acts had been passed in 1798 in part to prevent a violent rebellion similar to the one in France but was viewed by many as the federal government infringing on state's rights. People were rioting in the streets. Revolution was again in the hearts of young America. Had they so quickly forgotten the sacrifice and bloodshed of their fellow countrymen a mere 20 years before or was the fiery passion for freedom still ablaze?



And what about us? Are we still able to recall the feelings of anger, helplessness and loss as we did that September day just 10 years ago? Regardless of the political storm, we should never forget those that sacrificed their lives for our freedom. We should honor their sacrifice! During my sermon, I outlined three practical ways we as citizens can do just that: stay
involved in our culture, preserve the family structure, and teach the next
generation. One of the reasons I enjoy speaking at churches is because God's orchestration was so evident in Peter's life.

   











There were about 400 in the first service and 300
in the second service. I wasn't wearing the 6' broadsword during the sermon, but I brought it
out towards the end. You should have heard the gasps in the crowd. I
love that response!






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My youngest son Josh traveled with me to Ohio. Afterward, we had lunch with Pastor Jon Young and his family, then Josh and I visited the National Museum of the US Air Force. We only had an hour and a half to visit the museum, but we could have been there for several days. It was truly a fitting way to cap a day honoring America's heroes.



Check out all the pictures on: Facebook | Flickr









What are some ways you have honored the sacrifice of America's heroes?

Just over 100 members of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) turned out yesterday morning to hear Peter's story. Several of them had seen me before, but most had never heard of my great-grandfather. I signed books/DVDs for an hour and a half afterwards and I sold out of my books. One lady wrote her check out to Travis Francisco! Hmmm...




Funny story: After arriving at the venue, I realized that I had all of the parts to my colonial outfit (shoes, hat, wig, sword, etc) except my shirt. Then I realized I didn't have enough time to go home before "the bright lights hit me." So ... I went without a shirt! :0) Just kidding. I talked to one of the DAR ladies who had been a curator at the Charlotte Museum of History before, and she knew where some clothes were at the museum. Turns out ... they had the exact same shirt and size that I needed hanging in their wardrobe. Go figure! Another way of saying that: go God!




Hope everyone had a great new year. I'll be posting a recap of happenings this fall along with pictures of my meeting with the First Lady of Portugal, so stay tuned!

A lot has happened over the autumn months as I've continued to tell Peter's story, so I thought I'd catch you all up.




October 25 - I've been traveling so much that I didn't realize that I was in The Stanly News & Press for my last impersonation of Peter Francisco until I went to my PO Box this morning. The hostess of the event cut out the article and mailed it to me. It's one of the better articles I've read and includes a couple of video clips.




November 8 - I received word that WVPT — one of PBS's largest reaching stations with a potential 6.1 million viewers — will be broadcasting my documentary in the near future into VA, WV, MD, and DC. I'll keep you posted on broadcast dates.




November 10 - I received a phone call from the Army Historical Foundation and they have decided to add one of Peter's swords to the $200 million National Museum of the US Army that is scheduled to open in 2015. They anticipate 750,000 annual visitors. What an honor and a great way to preserve Peter Francisco's legacy! There are three dress swords that Peter Francisco owned that are in museums today. Peter saved Colonel Mayo's life (story in my book) down in Camden, South Carolina, and Mayo gave him a sword after the war to thank him. That sword is at a museum in Richmond but it's not on display. So, I called the Army Historical Foundation asking them to put it on display in the "new" army museum. He told me today that they are moving forward with my suggestion. Wahoo! They are going to use a picture of Peter as well in the display. The curator of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection Center offered their oil painting on a permanent loan to the Peter Francisco exhibit at the museum.




November 11 - Josh and I hit the road for Richmond & Washington, DC. We attended a wreath-laying ceremony at Peter Francisco's grave in Shockoe Hill Cemetery in honor of Veterans Day which was organized by the VA Sons of the American Revolution & the Society of the Descendants of Peter Francisco. I came dressed as Peter and it seemed people were taking my picture from every direction. One lady said, "It's really strange seeing you here at your grave, Peter."









Check out all the pictures and back story on: Flickr | Facebook




November 12 - After multiple discussions with the Portuguese Embassy, I was honored to bring Peter Francisco to life for a private luncheon with the First Lady of Portugal and other dignitaries at Mount Vernon. I gave Mrs. Cavaco Silva the first revised copy of Hercules of the Revolution , which I've been working on for the past year. The new edition contains an additional 30,000 words (~100 pages)! Hopefully, this will set up the perfect PR opportunity to hand deliver my book to the President of Portugal when it's translated into Portuguese.








Check out all the pictures and back story on: Flickr | Facebook