World War Two Enactment Weekend

I started this posting  about the World War Two Encampment Weekend  held at Old Bethpage Village Restoration but after getting there and seeing what was going on I decided to do an informational posting just on the Old Bethpage Village Restoration project. That has now been done so I will post about the Encampment Weekend. 

Old Bethpage Village Restoration Welcome Center

Welcome Sign Showing locations of displays

Volunteers in period uniforms act out various Army duties during the 

enactment. This lady is handing out information about an upcoming air 

show.

Mounted machine gun on vehicle

 Tracked vehicle pulling  "Long Tom" gun.

 Grandpa Guarneiri with great grand daughter Casidy standing by  great 

grand son Charlie in stroller.

Long Tom 

 To begin with spectators were permitted to walk all over the field
and get up close to all the vehicles and talk to a volunteer who would
explain the vehicle and answer questions.

                                 

Great Grand Daughter Casidy Takes a try at the jeep.

 Medical Vehicle

 Of course the pin girl up is ever present

 Medical tent. here a volunteer displays some of the instruments used.

Soldier's tents.

 More medical supplies on display

Sherman tank

 Trailer typically pulled behind a jeep.

 Typical jeep with tools fastened all over it.

 Company Headquarters Tent.

Field kitchen for cooking meals

 Chaplains tent 

 One of seveeral vendor's tent selling all sorts of ball caps, t-shirts
and other "stuff".

 Six By with mounted machine gun

My daughter Grand  mother Joyce and great grand daughter 

Casidy resting.

 Reenactment involved several armored vehicles and troop advancing
on and enemy fortified bunker and capturing it.

 Mock enemy fortified bunker

 Jeep and heavy duty wrecker

Some vendor offerings. These ammunition boxes were for $18.00.  

 I helped a little boy talk his mother into buying one for hm. She kept telling him 'but $18.00". What in the world would you do with it and she looked at me. I saw my chance so I told her every little boy need a box to keep his special stuff in such as a special rock or a special twig or all sort of little boy secret stuff. A little boy needs a box and this is a very special kind of box. Mommy bought the box and the little boy went away smiling and carrying his box.

Fire truck

 Command vehicle

 Volunteer Nurse giving great grand daughter Casidy a band aid

I asked her to look up for a photograph as grandmother Joyce 

looks on.

Following the mock battle they conducted a parade of all the equipment. 

Following that they lined all the equipment up again so the spectators who 

may have arrived latecould get up close to them. I found it interesting  that 

this equipment seemed so ancient when compared to today's equipment. It 

was state of art then but very old now. Never the less if required it could be 

quiet useful today in many situations. 

I want to point out again that all the people and organizations that put on these enactments are volunteers who spend a considerable amount of time preparing for and conducting these enactments. They feel that it provides a recognition to the service of the military who actually fought in the war and more importantly for the population to not forget about their dedication and service to our nations. Of utmost importance is for our younger generations and children to know about this period our national history. 

If you are ever in an area where one of the many, many different reenactments are presented make a point to go see it and take some young folks with you.

I want to thank all the volunteers, organizations and sponsors who make this kind of presentation possible. Thank you.

Remember as I always say God loves you and so do I.

Grandpa Bill.