Benjamin Franklin may have died more than 200 years ago, but you can meet the man in person when Craig Hall presents "An Evening with Ben Franklin." He'll be joined in the program by Sheryl Williams, who will portray Franklin's friend Madame Brillon.

Hosted by the Mount Joy Area Historical Society, the program will be held on Monday, July 17, at Cemetery Road Schoolhouse, 120 Fairview St., Mount Joy. It will begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed by refreshments.

Hall and Williams, who live in Lititz, are living historians. "We are not re-enactors," Hall clarified. "Our goal is to teach the public. When we do a presentation, it's almost like setting up a movie set, with full costumes."

The couple presents living history programs on people from the Revolutionary War, the Civil War, World War II and the Vietnam War, as well as characters from the Old West. A retired attorney, Hall has been into history, particularly military history, since he served in the U.S. Army in late 1960s, specializing in military intelligence. He began his second career as a Civil War re-enactor, but switched to living history to focus on teaching his audience. He met Williams at a re-enactment event, and the two soon learned they shared a love of history. Williams, a professional actress, works for the Lititz Historical Society as a costumed tour guide and also portrays various characters from the same time periods Hall focuses on.

Both said they particularly enjoy their Franklin and Brillon presentation, because they like spotlighting the Founding Father. "I love this man's sense of humor," Hall said of Franklin. Added Williams, "The thing about Ben Frankin is you cannot help but love him. You only have to look at his face to see what a kind, gentle soul he really was. ... He was witty, urbane and progressive."

Her character, Anne-Louise Boyvin d'Hardancourt Brillon de Jouy, was a French aristocrat who befriended Franklin during the time he spent in France during the Revolutionary War. "They became lifelong friends," she shared. "He was like a father figure to her."

Hall noted that the program will focus on Franklin's role in the Revolutionary War and his outlook on life at the time. "Franklin was instrumental in helping us win the war," he remarked. "He was also a man who grew and changed over time. He went from someone who was accepting of the institution of slavery to someone who vehemently objected to it."

Hall and Williams perform their living history programs throughout the region, going to retirement communities, schools and other organizations. "We call our events 'The Guest Is History,'" Williams commented.

They both believe in the importance of teaching history, not only as a way to honor the people and events of the past, but also as an opportunity to better understand America as a nation.

"If we don't study history, we're doomed to repeat it," Hall stated. "It's important to remember and understand - or try to understand - our history."

"An Evening with Ben Franklin" is free and open to the public. To contact Hall about future programs, call 720-217-8696.