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Restaurant Review By Bill Donegan

June 25, 2009 - No Comments

by Jim Barnes

Volkssturman

Volkssturman

I had a wonderful time at “The Alpen Hof German Restaurant” on Saturday night June 6, 2009. The Alpen Hof is located on Morgantown Road in Reading, Pa. It is only three miles from the Mid Atlantic Air Museum.
The occasion for my being there was that our German reenacting unit “The Kaiserlautern Volks Sturm” was having a dinner party to celebrate two promotions. Mine to Sgt. Gruppenfuhrer (group leader), and Jim Barnes to Lt. Zugfuhrer der 2.Ko.15/1 Kaiserlautern Volks Sturm.
The Volkssturm was initated on October 18, 1944 so, at that late stage of the war, supplies were limited. Therefore, part of our table were dressed in proper German military uniforms, other were in captured Russian uniforms or a mix of civilian and military fashions.  See the attached group photograph.
We noticed a sign posted on the outside wall of the restaurant “come see World War II period soldiers dressed in uniforms this week end”.
Once seated at our table we were serenaded by a Bavarian (in period Bavarian trachten kleid) playing the accordion. He had just finished his presentation when I asked him to play “Lilli Marleen”,  which he did as I sang the words in German: Vor der Kaserne, vor dem grossen Tor, stand eine Laterne und steht sie noch davor, so wollen wir uns da wiedersehen bei der Laterne wollen wir steh’n wie einst Lilli Marleen, wie Einst Lilli Marleen.

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civl war clothing by Diane Tennant

About Reenacting, Announcements, Events, History, Local News, News, Reviews, Upcoming Events, WWII

Rowlesburg WWII Living History

Posted June 22, 2009 - No Comments

Just a reminder that the 4th annual Rowlesburg, WV WWII Living History event will take place on this coming weekend, June 26 and 27. This is a fun event and extremely Reenactor-friendly.  If you are not signed up as a participant, then make plans to come as a spectator.  It’s a small, laid-back, but quality ... ...

Civil War, Events, News

GATHERING OF EAGLES 2009

Posted June 18, 2009 - No Comments

Here is a report from our correspondent, Nick Korolev: This past weekend June 5-7 saw the annual Gathering of Civil War Eagles Seminar at the Old Courthouse Civil War Museum in Winchester, VA.  This Civil War living history event is unlike any other.  The public gets to act as the press and speak ... ...

About Reenacting, Announcements, Events, News, Reviews, WWII

Reading Airshow WWII Weekend 2009

Posted June 14, 2009 - 9 Comments
Reading Airshow WWII Weekend 2009

It rained , it got hot, it was big and it was spectacular - it was Reading. The 193rd Rifle Division once again made its annual trip to the Reading Airshow on June 5, 6, 7. This may have been the biggest Reading yet, but it started out rather inauspiciously. Unit members who arrived on ... ...

About Reenacting, WWII

Guided Schizophrenia

Posted June 10, 2009 - 1 Comment

Here is a nifty little tool for living historians, contributed by Nick Korolev: GUIDED SCHIZOPHRENIA FOR WWII LIVING HISTORIANS This little guide has been adapted from one used at Camp Verde AZ for Indian Wars personas for those who wish to join or already are in the world of WWII living historians. To do things right and create a living breathing ...

Announcements, Events, History, Local News, News, Upcoming Events, WWII

Memorial Day Parades - Coraopolis and Lawrenceville, PA

Posted June 4, 2009 - No Comments
Memorial Day Parades - Coraopolis and Lawrenceville, PA

Several reenactors from the 28th Infantry Division, Co. K, participated in the Memorial Day parades in Coraopolis and Lawrenceville, PA. We met in Cora0polis and drove to Lawrenceville in Dan Evans’ 1942 Dodge weapons carrier. This was actually a very pleasant ride and we were well recieved by the crowds lining the street. The parade ... ...

About Reenacting, Civil War, Events, History, Local News, News

Julia Pierpont Day, Fairmont, WV

Posted June 1, 2009 - No Comments
Julia Pierpont Day, Fairmont, WV

On Saturday, May 23, 2009, I and three other Union Reenactors went to the Marion County Historical Society in downtown Fairmont to serve as color guard for a recognition day for Julia Pierpont, wife of Francis H. Pierpont of Fairmont, who was appointed as Governor of the Restored State of Virginia after the secession of ... ...

About Reenacting, Civil War, Events, History, Local News, News

Grafton National Cemetary Lantern Tour

Posted May 27, 2009 - 3 Comments
Grafton National Cemetary Lantern Tour

On Friday, May 22, 2009, I took part in the annual lantern tour organized by Mark Tennant. This tour focuses on the many Union soldiers buried in the Grafton National Cemetary located on the south side of downtown Grafton (not the new cemetary at Pruntytown a few miles away). For this year’s tour, we had ... ...

Civil War, News

Battle of Lewisburg - Report

Posted May 23, 2009 - No Comments

The following is a report from our correspondents, Bill and Linda Donegan in Southern West Virginia: Report of the 147th Anniversary Battle of Lewisburg Living History and Reenactment May 14-17, 2009, Lewisburg, West Virginia By Bill Donegan This year’s event celebrated Abraham Lincoln’s 200th Birthday. This was my experience at the 2009 event....

About Reenacting, Events, History, Local News, News, WWII

WWII Living History - Brownsville Steam and Gas Assn.

Posted May 19, 2009 - 1 Comment
WWII Living History - Brownsville Steam and Gas Assn.

This past weekend was National Road Festival weekend for the communities along Rt. 40 in Pennsylvania. I fell in with the local 28th Infantry Co. K for a living history encampment as part of the festival. We set up at the Brownsville Steam and Gas Association’s fairgrounds located 4 miles west of Brownsville, PA. There ... ...