Reenactors,
Please preregister online for this event. It will make registration go by much faster. At registration all you will have to do is sign the waiver and collect your ID card. We will be expecting a neighborhood of 450 reenactors this year. All reenactors and display participants will have to register. Even if you don’t plan on being in the battles.
Observe all safety and authenticity rules. No beards, and period hair cuts will be available on site. This is an ETO event.
We arrived in Columbus Ga. at approximately 8 PM eastern time. After a long day of travel we checked in to the hotel and set up our display room. After the majority of items were ready for display, we went to our rooms to settle in. The next morning we were busy finishing up the display, setting up interviews, and manning the hospitality room. After meeting with the Rangers and their families we had dinner and went back to the display room for mingling with Rangers and their families. Hearing stories from them men made the night go by quickly. Friday we loaded a few display Items to put out for The current Army Rangers, their families, and WWII Rangers, and their families. While the crowd was waiting to make it to the Rangers in action and graduation we put on a demonstration of uniforms and weapons from each of the six battalions during WWII with a brief history of each. The gates opened and everyone made their way to the bleachers for the ceremony. Not only was the ceremony informative, but entertaining. The Army had a good mix of tactics, maneuvers, education, humor, and explosives. After the graduation ceremony, we went on a tour of the National Infantry museum, where the curators took us on a private tour of a restored WWII barracks and company street complete with a chapel, mess hall, barracks, supply depot, and offices. Afterward we arrived in time to shower, change, and eat dinner. Once again opening up the display room to talk to the veterans and their families, and helping serve in the hospitality room. Saturday morning we went to a prayer service in Ft.Benning at the Ranger monument then lunch at the officer’s club. After lunch one of the current Army Rangers took us on a private tour of his headquarters. Saturday night we put on our class A uniforms for the formal dinner where guest speakers talked to us before dinner. After dinner we mingled with everyone and started to break down our display. By the end of the evening we had the majority of our equipment and personal belongings packed for the trip home.
On a personal note. This trip was the most inspiring event I have ever been to. It made me proud to be part of this organization, and an even deeper appreciation for those who serve. I have never been more proud of my friends, our soldiers, and our country.
WWII Music available for download on our website. 12 hours of music for download in MP3 format. Or if you want all the songs we can put them on a disc for you for a small donation to cover shipping and disc expenses. The disc has WWII posters etched into it via lightscribe. Not only are they impressive to look at, but they have many hours of period music. Place your mouse over media and click downloads to listen or download the music.
We will be updating the website soon with a donations page. We are a 501(c)3 not for profit organization. We will have a means for you to donate to us for charitable tax donations. With expenses of about $4,000 dollars for WWII Weekend, and our storage building to restore, we will need all the help we can get. Your donations are greatly appreciated. We have
The River battle will be Saturday December 12th. This will be a closed tactical open to ETO impression reenactors. This will be a constant rolling defensive battle, so bring food you can eat on the fly, or from a defensive position. Battle plans and price is in planning yet. Check the website next week for details on this event, under EVENTS.
September will be a busy month. With the Hangar dance, Great river road military vehicle convoy, and Scott Air Force base Air Show featuring the Tora, Tora, Tora show all on the same weekend. The weekend before will be the JB hayrides, and the weekend after the Air Show will be our trip to Rockford IL for WWII Days.
With three short weeks to go WWII Weekend 2009 at Jefferson Barracks it is shaping up to be the largest WWII Weekend yet.
My phone has been ringing constantly with people wanting to see this event. We will also have more vendors than before, and more reenacting units than we had in years past. The Veterans of the Battle of the bulge will be there signing books telling their stories. Stop by the vendors and pick up a souvenir for the kids, watch the battle, and weapons demonstrations, and see the vehicles and hear the roars of their engines.
This event is total immersion into the 40s. Walking around the camp you will smell the canvas, hear the music from the era, and be able to watch how soldiers lived, and trained with living history displays. The sounds of jeeps driving around, and soldiers marching fills the air. You will feel like you are right there in 1944. I could describe it to you, but you really have no idea until you see it for yourself. Come witness this 30 plus year tradition and see history come alive at Jefferson Barracks April 25th and 26th.
Cpl. Kevin Owens
“D” Co. 2nd Ranger Bn (reenacted)
U.S. 2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion of St.Louis, Inc. is a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Organization
