Entertainment

Ted Hart reclaims forgotten voices of American Revolution

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Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Written by Jamie Bishop

History tends to favor the loudest names. The American Revolution, as it is commonly told, belongs to figures like George Washington and Marquis de Lafayette; men whose legacies have long defined the narrative of independence. But on May 16, at City Center Gallery & Books, author Ted Hart will offer a different perspective—one grounded not in fame, but in forgotten lives.
Hart returns to Fayetteville from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. for an encore presentation and book signing of Vineyards to Victory: A French Soldier, Yorktown, and the Making of an American Family, following a Revolutionary War ceremony earlier that day. His work reframes the Revolution through the eyes of Siméon Gaugien, a young French artilleryman whose story, until recently, lived largely in obscurity.
Rather than retell the war through strategy and command, Hart focuses on what he calls the “lived experience” of the conflict.
“Focusing on Siméon Gaugien allowed me to step away from the familiar narratives of generals and statesmen,” Hart said. “What emerges is a far more human story—one that reveals the uncertainty, sacrifice, and international complexity of the Revolution.”
Gaugien, a farmer’s son from rural France, joined the army of Comte de Rochambeau and sailed to America in 1780. As part of the French artillery, he endured a grueling Atlantic crossing, a winter encampment in Newport, and ultimately the Siege of Yorktown, a decisive moment that helped secure American independence. Yet for Hart, the significance of the story lies not just in victory, but in the men behind it.
“The French artillery played a decisive role at Yorktown,” he explained, “yet the individuals behind those guns are largely absent from traditional accounts.”
That absence is what Vineyards to Victory seeks to correct.
For Hart, the project is more than historical, it is deeply personal. Gaugien is his fifth great-grandfather, a connection that could have easily turned the book into a family tribute. Instead, Hart approached it with deliberate restraint.
“Being a direct descendant created both an opportunity and a responsibility,” he said. “It gave me a starting point, but it also required discipline to separate family lore from verifiable history.”
That discipline led him into years of archival research across France and the United States, where small discoveries reshaped the larger story. One such moment came early, when Hart uncovered that Gaugien had an older brother, an overlooked detail that reframed his decision to leave home and enlist.
Other findings broadened the historical scope. The failed Franco-Spanish invasion of England in 1779 revealed just how uncertain the war effort remained even on the eve of French involvement in America. And then there were the human losses—quiet, devastating moments that rarely make it into textbooks.
Hart points to the deaths of two soldiers from Gaugien’s company, Jacques-Christianne Closset and Nicolas Fole, who drowned in the York River just days before the siege began. One is memorialized. The other is not.
“The loss of two comrades in this manner, so close to battle, would have been deeply felt,” Hart said. “It was important to me that this moment be included.”
In Fayetteville, a city shaped by military service, those stories carry a familiar weight. Hart sees clear parallels between 18th-century soldiers and those who serve today.
“Young men, often far from home, operating within complex alliances, facing uncertainty about outcomes—that hasn’t changed,” he said. “What has changed is connection. An 18th-century soldier like Siméon had no real contact with home. Months, even years, could pass in silence.”
Despite advances in technology, the emotional core of service duty, isolation and sacrifice, remains constant. That resonance is part of what makes Hart’s upcoming appearance more than a typical book event. Described as both a polished speaker and an engaging conversationalist, he invites audiences into dialogue, not just presentation. The May 16 gathering will offer attendees the chance to explore history not as distant fact, but as a lived experience, one shaped by individuals whose names rarely appear in bold print. At its heart, Vineyards to Victory is not just about one man. It is about thousands.
“I hope readers come away with a deeper appreciation for how international the American Revolution truly was,” Hart said, “and how much it depended on individuals whose names have largely been lost to history.”
In telling Siméon Gaugien’s story, Hart does more than recover a single life he restores dignity to a generation of soldiers who stood in the background of history, even as they helped shape its outcome. And in a place like Fayetteville, where service is both legacy and present reality, that reminder lands with quiet force: history was never only written by the men at the top, it was carried forward by those in the ranks, one story at a time.

A legacy that still rings: Honoring historic patriots for America’s 250th birthday

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Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Written by Sheila D. Barker

It is an exciting time to be living in North Carolina. As the United States celebrates its 250th anniversary, many communities across the state are finding meaningful ways to reflect on the nation's origins and the state's rich history. Gilbert du Motier, the Marquis de Lafayette, Fayetteville's namesake, has an enduring influence on American independence and finds renewed recognition in Fayetteville, a city that bears witness to Revolutionary history. Fayetteville events look to celebrate America's 250th birthday by connecting history with present-day recognition through dedicated programming and events. These celebrations aim to educate residents and visitors about the significant role the region played in shaping the nation. 

Tunnels to Towers 5k honors first responders, military

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Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Written by Amanda Ransom

On May 23 at 9:11 a.m., the Hope Mills community will gather for the Towers and Tunnels 5K. This is a tribute to service, sacrifice and commitment to those who run toward danger. Hosted with the Tunnel to Towers Foundation and the Stoney Point Fire Department, the event honors a region defined by military and first responder service. The run will be held at Golfview Greenway Walking Trail, located at 3644 Golfview Road in Hope Mills.
Volunteer race director Bill Reagan said the idea grew from a clear need.
“This entire region deserved a meaningful local event to honor its soldiers, veterans, and first responders,” Reagan said. “It is a debt long owed and an honor to begin repaying it.”
With communities stretching from Spring Lake to Southern Pines, the event reflects one of the nation’s most concentrated areas of service and sacrifice.
At the heart of the run is the story of Stephen Siller, whose actions on Sept. 11, 2001, inspired a national movement. After hearing of the attacks, Siller ran through the Brooklyn Battery Tunnel in full gear toward the World Trade Center, where he gave his life saving others. Reagan connects that moment to the broader service seen locally.
“Stephen’s run through that tunnel, the 343 first responders who never came home, and the soldiers whose boots hit the ground in Afghanistan weeks later are all expressions of the same national character, Americans who moved toward danger without hesitation, in different uniforms, in service to the same country,” he said.
The meaning of “Towers and Tunnels” goes beyond symbolism. In a region anchored by Fort Bragg, the message is personal.
“The soldiers of Fort Bragg ran toward their own towers — toward Afghanistan, Iraq, and every theater of operation,” said Reagan. “The tunnel, in this context, represents every formidable challenge they ran toward so that the rest of America would not have to.”
Participants can expect an unforgettable morning along the Golfview Greenway Walking Trail. The 9:11 a.m. start time is intentional.
“Every runner who crosses that line at that exact moment is connected to something much larger than a 5K,” Reagan said.
The event opens with a formal Honor Guard presentation, followed by the National Anthem performed by a local chorus and a moving bagpipe tribute. A bell ceremony, three solemn rings will honor fallen first responders, inviting participants to pause and reflect. There will be 343 signs honoring the first responders lost on September 11 and more than 100 pairs of combat boots representing soldiers who never returned home. Every participant will receive a race shirt and finisher medal, with trophies awarded to top performers and a traveling trophy recognizing the unit or department with the highest participation. The event is also a celebration of community, with live music, local food vendors and families gathering after the race.
“These aren’t just traditions,” Reagan said. “They are a promise that this community remembers.”
Proceeds support the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, which provides mortgage relief for Gold Star families, builds smart homes for injured veterans and combats veteran homelessness. For Reagan, that mission is deeply local.
“The cost of freedom carries a precise address, and those addresses are across this region,” he said. As the inaugural event, organizers hope it becomes a lasting tradition.
“We recognize what you have given,” Reagan said. “We will not forget, and we will continue to honor your service.”
For more information on the event or to register, visit runwalkhopemills.t2t.org.

Chicago to bring back nostalgia to Crown Theater

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Tuesday, 12 May 2026

Written by Jamie Bishop

Before algorithms curated playlists and before music became something compressed into earbuds and scrolling screens, there were bands like Chicago groups whose songs did more than entertain. They occupied space in people’s lives.
Their music drifted through open car windows in the summer. It played softly from living room stereos after midnight. It became woven into weddings, heartbreaks, family cookouts and long drives down unfamiliar highways. For generations of listeners, Chicago was never simply a band. It was memory set to brass and melody.
Now, nearly six decades after the group first emerged from the turbulent music scene of the late 1960s, Chicago is bringing its catalog of enduring hits to Fayetteville as part of Community Concerts’ 90th anniversary season. The legendary Rock and Roll Hall of Fame band will perform on May 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Crown Theatre, marking one of the most anticipated stops in this year’s concert lineup.
For Community Concerts President Michael Fleishman, the significance of the event extends beyond nostalgia.
“Chicago is one of those rare bands whose music transcends generations,” Fleishman said. “People may come because they grew up with the songs, but the music continues reaching new audiences because it’s timeless.”
That timelessness is difficult to manufacture and nearly impossible to sustain. Yet Chicago has managed to do both.
Formed in 1967, the band separated itself early by blending rock music with jazz-inspired horn arrangements and ambitious instrumentation. At a time when popular music was rapidly evolving, Chicago carved out a sound that was simultaneously experimental and accessible. Their music carried the energy of rock, the complexity of jazz and the emotional resonance of pop ballads.
The result was a catalog that would eventually include classics such as “Saturday in the Park,” “25 or 6 to 4,” “If You Leave Me Now,” “Hard Habit to Break” and “You’re the Inspiration.” Across decades, those songs remained in constant rotation on radio stations, movie soundtracks and playlists passed between generations.
But Chicago’s staying power has always been tied to more than commercial success. The band became part of the emotional architecture of American life.
Their music often arrives attached to memory. Listeners hear the opening horns of “Beginnings” and suddenly remember being young again. A piano chord triggers recollections of high school dances, first loves or moments long buried beneath the routine of adulthood. Chicago’s songs do not simply revisit the past; they reopen it.
That emotional connection is part of what made the band such a fitting choice for Community Concerts’ landmark season.
Founded during the 1930s, Community Concerts has spent decades bringing nationally recognized entertainment to Fayetteville. In many ways, the organization’s own history mirrors the endurance of the artists it presents. Through wars, economic shifts and dramatic changes in entertainment culture, the nonprofit has remained a steady presence in the city’s artistic life.
Its 90th season represents both a celebration of longevity and a statement about Fayetteville’s evolving cultural identity.
“This season is really about honoring legacy while continuing to grow,” Fleishman said. “For years, Community Concerts has worked to make sure people in this area can experience world-class entertainment right here at home.”
That accessibility matters in a city often overshadowed by larger entertainment markets like Raleigh or Charlotte. Bringing a band with Chicago’s reputation to Fayetteville signals something larger than a single concert date. It reflects the city’s continuing investment in arts, entertainment and cultural engagement.
It also reinforces the role live performance still plays in a digital era increasingly defined by isolation and convenience.
Streaming platforms have made music instantly available, but convenience rarely replaces experience. A live concert still carries something irreplaceable: the collective energy of strangers singing the same lyrics, the vibration of instruments moving through a theater and the temporary suspension of daily distractions.
For many attendees, the Chicago concert will likely become more than a night out. It will become reunion and remembrance.
Some audience members will arrive carrying decades of history with the music. Others may be attending because a parent introduced them to the band years earlier. Inside the Crown Theatre, those generations will occupy the same room, connected by songs that have somehow survived changing trends, technologies and eras. And Chicago itself remains remarkably resilient.
Few bands from their era continue performing at such a high level after nearly 60 years. Lineups evolved. Music culture shifted dramatically. Entire genres rose and disappeared. Yet Chicago endured, continuing to tour worldwide while maintaining the polished musicianship and signature sound that made the band famous. Their longevity reflects discipline as much as talent. Chicago’s music has always balanced technical precision with emotional sincerity, a combination that allows songs to age without losing their impact. Fleishman believes audiences are responding not only to nostalgia but to authenticity.
“There’s something powerful about hearing music performed live by artists who have dedicated their lives to their craft,” he said. “That connection between performer and audience is something people still crave.”
As Fayetteville prepares for the performance, the concert arrives at a moment when communities increasingly seek shared experiences again. In a fragmented cultural landscape, live music still possesses the rare ability to gather people together in one place for one common emotional experience. For a few hours, generations will sing the same choruses beneath the theater lights. Some will remember who they once were when they first heard those songs. Others may discover why the music endured long before they were born. That is the quiet power of a band like Chicago.
The songs remain familiar not because they survived history but because they became part of it.
Chicago will perform on May 21 at 7:30 p.m. at the Crown Theatre, located at 1960 Coliseum Drive in Fayetteville. Tickets are available through the Crown Complex box office, or by visiting https://www.crowncomplexnc.com/

(Photos courtesy of Chicago's Facebook page)