I've been a History buff since childhood, particulary of the CW, since a few of my Ancestors were involved in it.

Only later in life did I get the opportunity to get into reenacting - in 1991.   I thought I knew a fair amount about it, but quickly found out that I had lots to learn!

As many Reenactors (including this one) say; "It's one thing to read about History; It's quite another to LIVE it!"

Reenactors run a wide spectrum of how seriously they take this stuff, but when done with a strict fidelity to History, there can be an almost mystical "time bubble" experience that's hard to describe.
All it takes is one idiot lighting up a cigarette with his bic or blazing away with a flash camera to spoil it all, though.

The last few big out of state events I went to were a bit of a disapointment, as there was a lot of this "Farby" (anachronistic) stuff going on. So I have probably done my last one.
Besides; I'm getting too old and fat for those bayonet charges on the rebs, anyway.

Every now and then I'll still put on the old blue woolies and do a school History class dog-and-pony show, or play some of the old CW tunes on my parlor guitar or minstrel banjo.
And I might fall in for the occasional parade with the Fife-&-Drum Corps as long as they keep the repitoire simple (I don't keep up with the fancy stuff much any more).

The people who did what they believed they had to back then deserve to be remembered, I reckon.