About

This 80th anniversary living history event brings to life the experiences of fighting abroad and the war on the home front during World War II. Guests will have the chance to learn from living historians portraying soldiers who fought in WWII and about different aspects of a soldier’s life including weapons, signals and communications, and tactical demonstrations. Impressions will range from U.S. Army and Marines to those of British and Russian allies. Civilian living historians will portray goings on at the home front and USO activities stateside. Demonstrations will include medical, cooking, weapons and a military uniform and civilian fashion show. A special tactical demonstration will be performed on Saturday afternoon to illustrate the art of fire and maneuver. The VA250 Mobile Museum will allow visitors to compare the efforts of civilians and soldiers from the American Revolution with those of the 20th century throughout the weekend. All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission.

Partner museums to include; MacArthur Memorial, U.S. Army Quartermaster Museum, U.S. Army Ordnance TSF, U.S. Army Women’s Museum, and the Virginia War Memorial will have displays and more for visitors to see and experience. Presentations by authors and historians will be throughout the weekend. Actor and historian Charles Wissinger will portray Medal of Honor recipient U.S. Army Lieutenant Audie Murphy and share his amazing story.

Visitors will have an opportunity to meet and hear about the adventures of U.S. Army First Lieutenant Audie Murphy (portrayed by actor/historian Charles Wissinger) who was an American soldier, actor and song writer. He is widely celebrated as the most decorated American combat soldier of World War II, and has been described as the most highly decorated enlisted soldier in U.S. history. Murphy received the Medal of Honor for valor that he demonstrated at age 19 for single-handedly holding off a company of German soldiers for an hour at the Colmar Pocket in France in January 1945, before leading a successful counterattack while wounded.

Other presenters include Al Barnes, Virginia National Guard who will present "U.S. Army 29th Division in World War II," Jennifer Cottle, MacArthur Memorial will present "The End of WWII and the Occupation of Japan," Ali Kolleda, U.S. Army Fort Lee Museums, will present "U.S. Army Chaplains in World War II" and Colin Romanick, Pamplin Historical Park will present "Divided Loyalties: Germany’s Foreign Volunteers."