by Jim Barnes
On the weekend f August 4-5, we took part in the WWII reenactment of the taking of the Ludendorff Bridge, recalled in Ken Hechler’s book, “The Bridge at Remagen,” which was in early March 1945. It was one of two remaining bridges across the river Rhine in Germany when it was captured during the Battle of Remagen by United States Army forces during the closing weeks of World War II.*
The annual event is held at Tidioute, Pennsylvania around the iron bridge crossing the Allegheny River. This small town with a population of less than a thousand, is located on the edge of the Allegheny National Forest about 120 miles northeast of Pittsburgh and is a very scenic location for such an event.
This year the Battle of the Bulge Reenactment at Fort Indiantown Gap was held a week later than usual – from January 31 to February 4th. The weather for the event was predictably cold, but there was no snow to speak of. We spent most of our time portraying German volunteers and Volkssturm in charge […] ...
This past year has been an interesting one to say the least. Here is a recap of what we have done since April. We attended the Lantern tour at the Grafton National Cemetery in Grafton which contains 2100 internments, including 1252 Civil War soldiers. I delivered General Black Jack Logan’s address of May 5, 1868 to […] ...
Here is what we have so far for the coming year through April. January 2018 WWI – Jan 12-14, 2018: “Bathelémont: Baptism of Fire”(Hosted by FR 90 (German) and the 18th RI (French)). Time period: November 1917. Event held at the Caesar Krauss Great War Memorial Site, Newville, PA. http://www.greatwarassociation.com/Schedule.html WWII R...
Our site was recently hacked and an unauthorized person posted an article on it. Apologies to all about this. Editor ...
Here is a last minute addition to the events calendar that I just got around to adding. Sounds interesting. 18th Century – October 28-29, 18th Century Scottish festival. Campbellton Landing, Fayetteville, NC. https://www.caledonianfest.com/ ...
One of my favorite events is the Fort Frederick Market Fair. This event held annually at Fort Frederick State Park. This is a Maryland state park surrounding the restored Fort Frederick, a star fort active in the French and Indian War and the American Revolutionary War. The market fair is a combination reenactor’s shopping mall […] ...
April brings showers and on April 6-8 of this year, it also brought the School of the Longhunter which takes place at Prickett’s Fort near Fairmont, WV on an annual basis. This encampment/symposium is an interesting and informative event with a lot to offer for the Colonial era reenactor/living historian. This year’s presentations inclu...
This annual reenactment/living history event was held from January 25 through the 28th at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. As usual, it was a great opportunity to see some outstanding impressions, visit with old friends and shop at the many vendors who came to sell their wares at the event. As usual, we assisted at […] ...
This is a month late, but better late than never. The following is a quick summary of events we attended last year: Our first event of the year was at Fort Indiantown Gap for the annual Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, sponsored by the WWII Historical Association. We take part in the Axis hospital […] ...
Below are the events on which we currently have information. More to follow. January 2017 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 25- 29. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiiha.org/new/index.php/fig February 2017 WWII – Elbe River Event, February 18, Old Bedford Village, Bedford, PA. regardless of the weather as usua...
The USS Arizona during the attack* Today is the 75th Anniversary of the “Day of Infamy,” as President Roosevelt described it. During a period in which our country and it’s history are beset with enemies from without and within, it is important those Americans who lost their lives in this attack and the brave response […] ...
This year’s Reading event was blessed with reasonably good weather for the first couple of days. The third was another story – more on that later. The 193rd was again out in the farthest reaches of the airport grounds, with a US group largely hiding us from view, but we still got a good […] ...
The Grafton Lantern Tour is a memorial to the hundreds of Civil War soldiers buried in the Grafton National Cemetery located in Grafton, Taylor County, W.Va. This cemetery is a particularly appropriate location for such a memorial. “In 1867, Maj. R. C. Bates was ordered by the War Department to locate a permanent burial site […] ...
Fort Frederick State Park is a Maryland State Park surrounding the restored Fort Frederick, a star fort active in the French and Indian War (1754–1763) and the American Revolution (1775-1783). The fort served as a refuge for settlers and was originally garrisoned by the 60th Regiment of foot and local militia. It was never directly […] ...
There are numerous stories and legends about the origin of Memorial Day that have grown up over the last 150-odd years. From the freedmen of Charleston, SC, who cleaned up and landscaped the burial grounds of 257 Union prisoners of war buried at the Hampton Park Race course and then held a memorial service for […] ...
Prickett’s Fort, near Fairmont, WV, held its annual School of the Longhunter once again this year and as usual, it was an excellent event. According to the official website, “Pricketts Fort, constructed in 1774, provided a place of refuge from American Indian attack for early settlers. It was built at the confluence of Pricketts Creek...
This year, The Battle of the Bulge Reenactment was held from January 27-31. On the way up on Friday, we had a harrowing drive through a white-out in western Maryland and, having been in one fender-bender already this winter, the thought of turning around and going home did cross my mind. But we toughed it […] ...
The following is starter calendar for the 2016 Reenacting season. More to follow. January 2016 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 27 – 31. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiiha.org/new/index.php/fig February 2016 WWII – Elbe River Event, February 27, Old Bedford Village, Bedford, PA. regardless of the we...
The School of the Longhunter, held at Prickett’s Fort State Park, Fairmont, WV, is a two-day seminar which takes in a variety of subjects relevant to anyone who participates in 18th Century living history or even just has an interest in that time period. This year, the event was held on April 9th and 10th […] ...
Grafton, West Virginia – Grafton National Cemetery Lantern Tour On Friday evening, May 22, at 8:30 p.m. There will again be a living history tour of the Grafton National Cemetery. Tour leader Mark Tennant will lead the tour of Civil War graves in the cemetery. Mark and reenactor assistants dressed in Civil War period […] ...
Occuring as usual during the last week of January, this year’s FIG event was a particularly cold one. Once again, Linda and I joined the folks at the German hospital to assist with the living history. I am not sure what the standing temperatures were for the weekend, but the wind chill was impressive. To […] ...
The following is what I have so far for our general region. Some events have not yet released their 2015 event information. Check back for updates and additions. January 2015 WWII – Battle of the Bulge Reenactment, January 27 – February 1. Ft. Indiantown Gap PA. Contact: http://www.wwiifederation.org February 2015 Civil War – Febr...
This year the annual battle between Grossdeutschland and their invited units and the 193rd Rifle Division, their comrades the 9th Guards and other gallant Red Army units, took place on the weekend of November 7-9, 2014. This year, the scenario involved the Red Army’s advance into Poland. As has been the case for the last […] ...
A sincere thanks to all veterans out there! ...
