Washington-Rochambeau Route Continues to be Celebrated by “March to Victory” Towns

By Richard D. Smith for The Montgomery News | Nov 5, 2026

There have been numerous praiseworthy activities inspired by the celebration of America’s 250th year. In particular, there’s been a long overdue elevation of previously overlooked or under celebrated events and people crucial to the winning of independence.

Montgomery Township officials pose with Gen. Rochambeau and Gen. Washington re-enactors and W3R leaders in front of the March to Victory sign installed on Orchard Road in Skillman.

One such event was the long march by Continental troops under George Washington and allied French soldiers under Jean-Baptiste Donatien de Vimeur, better known as Comte de Rochambeau, to force the surrender of British troops in Yorktown, Virginia, essentially ending the war in favor of the United States.

Among courageous persons were Black and indigenous soldiers who fought for the cause of independence, notably those of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment.

Establishment of the Washington- Rochambeau Revolutionary Route (or “W3R” for short) has been a multi-town, multistate initiative, with Montgomery Township and Rocky Hill being active members

“There are 75 Victory Towns in New Jersey, by far the most in any state,” says Bradford Fay, Executive Director of Outreach, for W3R-US. He lives in Griggstown, on the Washington-Rochambeau route itself. “So far, about 15 towns are participating.”

Although Fay developed the 2026 Victory Towns program, the National Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route Association Inc. (W3R-US) is the private sector 501c3 partner to the Washington Rochambeau National Historic Trail.

The W3R organization had been active for three decades. It was first organized in Connecticut in 1995, went national about four years later, and was formally incorporated in 2003.

Its first objective was official recognition of the W3R route as a National Historic Trail within the National Park Service. This was achieved when the appropriate legislation was passed by Congress and signed into law by President Barrack Obama in 2009.

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Participating W3R towns get the use of the Victory Towns logo; a unique letter from W3R historian, Dr. Bob Selig detailing the local community’s connection to the trail; and a cast aluminum road marker.

“Our team also becomes a source of advice and referrals to towns wishing to promote the story locally,” said Fay. “Our fundamental mission is public awareness and education, which this program helps us achieve.”

The cost of membership among The Victory Towns ranges from $2,200 to $5,900.

W3R is among the organizations partnering with the 1st Rhode Island Regiment reenactment group, the Trenton Housing Authority, and other nonprofits to develop and fund a monument honoring the original and racially diverse 1st Rhode Island Regiment to be erected in Trenton in the coming years.

This project grew from two decades of work by the late Algernon Ward, a lifelong Trenton resident, who led re-enactors of African descent in portraying a regiment that marched with Washington and Rochambeau, playing a heroic role in winning American independence.

Mayors Neena Singh of Montgomery and Bob Uhrik of Rocky Hill with the 1st Rhode Island Regiment re-enactor Kevin Chapman at W3R dinner in Trenton.

Living history reenactor Kevin Chapman,https://princetonsymphony.org/ in full 1st Rhode Island Regiment uniform, gave the keynote address at the W3R’s August 28 fundraising and celebration dinner at Cooper’s Riverview.

Fittingly, the restaurant stands on the site of a Delaware River wharf where Continental soldiers loaded cannons, tents and food into boats during one of their crossings of the Delaware.

Chapman spoke strongly for the need to educate each new generation about the role of Black and indigenous soldiers in securing American independence.

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The celebrations of the 250th birthday of America didn’t end on this year’s 4th of July. The 250th anniversaries of Rochambeau’s arrival in America and the British surrender at Yorktown, Virginia, are yet to come in 2030 and 2031 respectively.

And W3R plans to be part of them.

“Once a victory town, always a victory town,” Brad Fay said. “We look forward to an ongoing relationship with them.”

Learn more visit: w3r-us.org