World War II Weekend at
Eisenhower National Historic Site

(8/31) On September 15 and 16, the National Park Service will sponsor a World War II living history weekend at the Eisenhower National Historic Site. The weekend features an authentic recreation of both Allied and German army camps, complete with original World War II vehicles. Over 100 living history enthusiasts will portray military personnel from the European Theater in 1944.

Living history volunteers representing American, British, Canadian, Polish, Russian, and German soldiers will present programs on World War II medical services, weapons and equipment, communications, military vehicles, and the life of the common G.I. A mock Army Air Force Fighter mission briefing will be presented.

New this year will be a special traveling exhibit of a typical 1940s American home. The display includes the interior of the home, and will be staffed by volunteers from the "Reflections of World War II" living history group. Volunteer groups will offer talks about life on the home front, and Civil Defense Air Raid Wardens.

Guest speakers include authors, historians, and veterans of World War II, including Margaret George, author of We Knew We Were at War: Women in World War II offering eyewitness accounts from women during the war; Richard Falvey, a D-Day veteran, about his experiences as lead sergeant of a Bazooka Platoon; Leonard Feinberg, a medic with the 35 th Infantry Division, about his experiences at D-Day, the Battle of the Bulge, and his return to the Allied battle lines after being held as a prisoner of war in Germany.

Army Air Force fighter pilot Abner Rainbow will speak about flying the P-47 Thunderbolt in missions that included the Battle of the Bulge and earned him two distinguished Flying Crosses.

German World War II veteran Gottfried Dullias, a fighter pilot with the Luftwaffe, will speak about his experiences fighting against Allied pilots, his survival as a prisoner of war in the Gulag, and ultimately his immigration to the United States to become an American citizen.

Red Wells, a Special Forces veteran of the 99 th Infantry Battalion, will speak about his combat experiences during the capture the French port of Cherbourg shortly after D-Day, and the liberation of the Nazi concentration camp at Buchenwald.

In addition to book talks and signings, special exhibits include: the Aces Museum for Minority World War II Veterans presenting puppet shows for children on the contributions made to the war effort made by minority groups; and the National Security Agency's National Cryptology Museum exhibit about cryptology in World War II. Experts will be on hand to demonstrate a German World War II Enigma Code Machine used by the Nazis to send secret coded messages.

Lunches will be for sale both days in a recreated army mess tent sponsored by the Heidlersburg Fire Company.

A highlight of the weekend will be Saturday night's World War II style "USO" dance held at the U.S. Army Reserve Center at 1200 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg. The dance, which takes place from 7:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., will feature 1940s big band music by the Gettysburg Big Band and is open to the public. Tickets are $5.00 and will be available at the door.

The encampment is open to the public Saturday 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Sunday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission to the Eisenhower National Historic Site is by shuttle bus. On World War II Weekend buses depart every 15 minutes from the National Park Service Visitor Center located on Taneytown Road. For this event, on-site parking for cars only will also be available in a farm field accessible off of Emmitsburg Road, Business Route 15, weather permitting. Bus groups, recreational vehicle drivers and people who use wheelchairs should use the shuttle bus. For group reservations, call 1-877-874-2478. Fees to enter the site either by shuttle bus or by parking in the field are: Adults, $6.00; Youth 13-16, $4.50; Children 6-12, $3.50.

For more information contact the Eisenhower National Historic Site at 717/338-9114 or visit the web site at www.nps.gov/eise.

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