For a couple weekends a month during warm weather, James Dixon’s life slows down from the hectic 20th century pace.

Dixon sheds the factory sewn clothing, modern eye glasses and leaves behind his job working on modern machinery at Proctor & Gamble in Auburn, to don hand-sewn rough wool and cotton garments of the Royal Irish Artillery.

He steps back in time to recreate the Revolutionary War on battlefields in Massachusetts and Maine.

“My brother started doing re-enactments about 35 years ago and I thought it was foolish,” Dixon, 50 from Limington, said. “Then I went to my first one 30 years ago and was hooked.”

His brother, who lives in Massachusetts, participates on the American side.

Dixon believes what draws him to become a solider on the side of the British was growing up in Lexington, Mass., surrounded by history.

“It’s a different lifestyle. It’s a slower pace with good people and good times. I couldn’t do it for very long, but a weekend is enough. I do eat better at re-enactments than I do at home, though!”

If he’s not fighting for the Royal Irish Northern Division, Dixon can also be found on the sidelines of a New England Patriots game, firing his musket with the End Zone Militia to cheer the football team on.

The End Zone Militia was formed around the time Robert Kraft bought the New England Patriots. They are a group of 32 men and women who stand in each end zone and fire their black powder muskets each time the Pats score. 

They also do photo opportunities with fans before and after the game.

Dixon thought it was a long shot to get into the End Zone Militia because you have to be a re-enactor for more than 10 years to even get on the waiting list.

“My brother was one of the original members when the End Zone Militia was formed and urged me to sign up.  I thought I was never going to get on the roster, but they ended up calling me half way through the season last year and I went to seven games, he said.

“It’s awesome being on the field,” the Patriots fan said. “You don’t get a clear perspective of how big those guys are until you’re next to them.”

The End Zone Militia also has a lot of fun while trying to get the crowd going. They always lean to the right when an opposing team is kicking a field goal and always start the game with a communion of sorts; an Altoids mint they call the body of Kraft.

Dixon is the only End Zone Militia from Maine and he’ll be part of the group as long as he continues to show up for games.

“You’re pretty much on the roster until someone stops showing up or passes away,” he said.