10th annual festival honors Greatest Generation, celebrates 1940's
PEACHTREE CITY, Ga., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Experience the sights and sounds of the Greatest Generation when the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing hosts the tenth annual "WWII Heritage Days" April 27-28, 2013. The history festival will be held at The Historical Airpower Facility, Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field, Peachtree City from 9am-4pm both days.
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The weekend will again feature vintage aircraft, period vehicles, guest speakers, education displays, demonstrations by reenactors portraying Allied and Axis troops and activities for school age kids. Local actors and singers from Twilight Theatre will impersonate 1940's celebrities and perform musical hits from the era throughout the weekend. Highlights include an opening ceremony recognizing local WWII veterans and a 1940's-theme hangar dance.
Mr. Ewoud Swaak, the Honorary Consul to the Netherlands for Georgia and South Carolina, will be the keynote speaker at the WWII Heritage Days Opening Ceremony. The theme of the program, Operation Market Garden: History and Legacy, will commemorate a battle in September 1944 when 40,000 Allied paratroopers attempted to liberate a series of cities, towns and bridges in Holland in an effort to shorten war.
The WWII Heritage Days Opening Ceremony is expected to be one of the largest gatherings of WWII veterans in Georgia this year. Activities begin at 9:30am.
Bruce Gamble, author of Swashbucklers and Black Sheep: A Pictorial History of Marine Fighting Squadron 214 in World War II, will describe the exploits and accomplishments of the famous squadron. Award-winning aviation artist Marc Stewart will be displaying several of his WWII-theme prints.
Saturday evening will bring back the Big Band sound synonymous with the 1940's at "Keep 'em Flying", a hangar dance fundraiser featuring a 21-piece swing band. Proceeds from the dance offset the cost of WWII Heritage Days, aircraft preservation and "Education Through Living History", the group's WWII history program made available to schools and youth groups free of charge.
"WWII Heritage Days is a community celebration that will educate and entertain the entire family," said Jim Buckley, CAF Dixie Wing leader. The event draws enthusiasts to Peachtree City from throughout the southeast.
Sunday morning will begin with a jeep-top religious service familiar to millions of American servicemen during and since the Second World War.
Organizations scheduled to attend include the Atlanta History Center, U.S. Army Signal Corps Museum, Marietta Museum of History, Kennesaw State University's Museum of History & Holocaust Education, 1st Infantry Division (reenacted), Five-oh-First, 134th IR134 "Hoch und Deutschmeister" and Kelly's Zeroes.
Local civic organizations and schools are also invited to create and display 1940's exhibits.
Why turn a flying museum into a living history classroom? "Our goal is to honor the Greatest Generation, the men and women who won the Second World War," explained Buckley.
Suggested donation for "WWII Heritage Days" is $5, Children 5 and under free. "WWII Heritage Days" will be held rain or shine. Please no pets. Tickets for "Keep 'em Flying" are $50 before April 22nd, $60 at the door. Reserved tables and group discounts available. All ticket sales final. For more information, please visit www.wwiidays.org or call 678-364-1110.
The Commemorative Air Force is a non-profit organization dedicated to flying and restoring World War II aircraft. Based in Midland, Texas, the organization has over 9,500 members and operates a fleet of over 150 World War II aircraft. www.commemorativeairforce.org
Contact:
Chris Madrid
Public Information Officer
CAF Dixie Wing
770-655-3315 (C)
[email protected]
SOURCE Commemorative Air Force Dixie Wing
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