In September of 2014, our family was able to volunteer for the first ever Remembering WWII reenactment here in Linden Tennessee. Seeing that the family putting it on also worship at church with us we had the chance to help out in several areas. It was super awesome to get to be a part of this event, from the costumes to the decorations to the vets stories to the battles I don't think there are many times I've enjoyed myself more.
It started on Friday with finishing the decorations and a lot of set up. We ended the day with a showing of Desperate Journey (Errol Flynn; Ronald Reagan) in the camp just outside of the square.
The next morning at 8:00 am the square was starting to bustle with last minute final touches and the arrival of several vets and reenactors.
The morning of Saturday the 27th outside the Canteen where Tirzah and Mommy worked the majority of the day.
Ian and I on the night of the 26th on Friday right before the movie.
Robert helped sell reproduction newspapers and Tirzah helped out in the Canteen.
A Family photo we took in front of the stage on one of those very few occasions that we were all free.
The camp on the morning of the 27th.
Veteran Don Jakeway speaks in front of the ever growing crowd of spectators.
Veteran Jimmy Gentry was the first WWII vet to speak.
Tirzah and I had the wonderful chance to sing several songs in between these to veterans.
UNMC Edgar Harrell told his story of the sinking of the USS Indianapolis
After a lot of work it all came together from the lift gate to the sandbags the effect was complete.
Our group of boys manly the 82nd but we have two 101st stowaways in there. ;)
Medics to the rescue. If any of you are wondering almost 100 percent of their equipment is original.
Our boys reached the top of the court house and let the Nazis flag fall to the ground...
Replacing it with OLD GLORY
At 3:00 pm the last battle was over the guns were silenced, the crowd dispersed and it was time to start braking down, but for some of us the day wasn't over yet.
All the vets, volunteers and reenactors trekked to the Courter house to end the day with singing, a free dinner and some wonderful root beer floats. It was a perfect ending to a perfect day.
I must say that it took a lot of work to make it all pull through but it was worth it!
Come see us next year for the thrill of your life, get your chance to hear first hand accounts from eyewitnesses, shake the hands of heroes and praise the name of God.
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