2014 Re-Enactment Media Release

8/12/2019 2014 Re-Enactment Media Release

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www.lestweforgetusa.org

Contact: Victoria Dunlop,

Public Information Officer

269-468-5679, [email protected]

This Event Contact: Don Alsbro,

Colonel US Army (Ret)

269-925-7176, [email protected]

May 27, 2014

Lest We Forget Presents “A Walk Through American History” Re-enactments

BENTON HARBOR - Lest We Forget will bring live action as you “Walk Through American History”

during re-enactments on the shore of Lake Michigan at Tiscornia Beach and in fields at the SouthwestMichigan Regional Airport during their seventh tribute to veterans and our military history.

Lest We Forget’s 2014 WWII, Korea and Vietnam Re-enactment occurs June 20-22. Patriotism will be

apparent as the "Avenue of Flags" welcomes visitors along Airport Road, with flags erected through

the cooperation of the Benton Harbor/St. Joseph Exchange Club and the Bridge Academy. The displaywill be in place June 13-23. In Berrien County, the Commissioners have given Lest We Forget a

proclamation calling for county residents to fly their flag for the month of June in honor of the numerous

patriotic activities taking place.

The unexpected return of beach landings to the event will please attendees and re-enactors alike! The

Normandy D-Day battle with landing craft on Saturday at 10:00 am is in honor of Rex Welch, WWII

veteran and member of the 82nd Airborne Division who jumped in Africa, Italy, Normandy and

Holland, in addition to fighting in the Battle of the Bulge. The Okinawa Beach Landing begins at12:00pm and will honor Arden Pridgeon, who landed at both Leyte and Okinawa with the 96th InfantryDivision. Both of these individuals will be present to witness the re-enactments.

Staging begins Friday, June 20, with activities around the Twin Cities. The Vietnam Huey helicopters

arrive around noon and offer membership rides to the public. Throughout the day, thunderous War Birds

will arrive at the airport and be on display for the weekend. We are honored by having the Confederate

Air Force from Oklahoma and the Liberty Jump Team from Texas. The C-47 plane that they

jump out of was used on D-Day. Plus, this group is traveling to Normandy, France to jump during

the 70th Anniversary commemoration in June - then flying directly to Benton Harbor. So we will have

present the plane that was used in 1944, and again in 2014! This is a unique and exciting itinerary to be

included in, making this re-enactment – and your witnessing it – an historical event! Plus, there will be12 jumpers and they will be using WWII type parachutes. Troops, other vendors and vehicles will

continue to arrive at the airport Friday and set up camp. Meanwhile, the Heritage Center in St. Joseph

will be conducting narrated walks of patriotic statues downtown along the Bluff. Your chance to rollwith the waves occurs Friday from 2-4 pm at Tiscornia Beach, where a WWII landing craft will be

giving rides to the public. Rides will be offered on a donation basis. At 3 pm there will be a special ride

involving WWII veterans: all veterans are encouraged to take a ride.

mailto:[email protected]




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Friday evening, Celebration Cinema in Benton Harbor will be the site of “Walk Through History” from

7-9pm. Clips of WWII, Korean and Vietnam Wars will be featured along with presentations by Medal

of Honor recipients from all three conflicts: Hershel Williams (WWII), Duane Dewey (Korea) and

Allen Lynch (Vietnam).

Saturday starts early as the Chow Hall, located in the airport terminal, opens to the public at 7am. The

Leap Dogs parachute team will perform a patriotic flag drop to open the ceremonies at 10:00am and

the Normandy D-Day Beach Invasion will begin with beach pyrotechnics and War Birds will attackthe beach and landing craft deliver troops to storm the beach.

Following this invasion, Lest We Forget has created "Inchon Remembered." Korean veterans will be

honored in a landing craft ride along the shoreline. This will be followed by the spectaculardemonstration of a Flame thrower, which will shoot a rolling ball of fire across the sand, growing brightred before it blackens and smoke dissipates into air. We are anticipating that Sang il Kim, Consul

General of Korea in Chicago will be present and he will ride with the Korean veterans on their landing

craft “Inchon Remembered” ride and then speak to the crowd. Later Saturday evening, the Korean

veterans will have a private dinner with the Consul General.

The Okinawa Beach Landing begins at noon as the beach is hit by war birds and culminates later in theiconic scene of the Iwo Jima Flag Raising, and will be witnessed by Hershel Williams, Iwo Jima Medal

of Honor recipient.

Activity at the beach concludes, however landing craft rides will continue from 2-5pm, but from the

Benton Harbor DNR Boat Launch on Riverview Drive in Benton Harbor. At the airport, interactive funcan be had in the way of rides on the Huey and Bell helicopters. Membership may be required, but

applications are available.

Those who served our country experienced war first-hand, and several individuals will share with ushow it impacted their lives. Hear "Vietnam War as Seen by Vietnam Medal of Honor Recipient Allen

Lynch,” listen to "Korean War--Essence of War" by Art Clark and Red Sage, and take in the words ofDuane Dewey, Korean Medal of Honor Recipient.

Heavy sounds overhead herald the Warbird Flyover. Witness the Korean Flag Drop and dash for

candy during the Korean War Chosin Reservoir Tootsie Roll Drop in the Battlefield with the LibertyJump Team. Often called the Forgotten War, be assured, the soldiers have not forgotten, and the Tootsie

Roll Drop will remind them that these sugary candies saved many lives in the freezing temperatures in

Chosin – by providing needed energy but also being molded in place to plug holes in damaged

equipment!

Today, learn or remember as the Vietnam War is re-enacted in the airport Battlefield. Watch Johnny

Mayo with his dog who he has trained to do what his War Dog “Kelly” did in Vietnam, saving his life.

Plus, there will be two aircraft that were used in Vietnam, #369 Huey Medevac and #801 Huey

gunship, a flame thrower, Vietnam vehicles and the 25th Infantry Division, “Wolfhounds.” This

Vietnam re-enactment will bring back memories!

New this year is the opportunity to bring your well-worn flag for proper disposal during our American

Flag Retirement, located outside of the hangar. The Fiskar’s Hanger will start hopping around 6pm

when the Canteen opens. See the 40's Fashion Show, hear "Voices of Freedom" from Grand Rapids,and be ready to boogie during the Hangar Swing Dance featuring Big Band Music by Moonlighters.



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Early risers on Sunday can have breakfast at 7am when the Chow Hall re-opens and another addition to

the event takes place – a Classic Car Show! Classic car owners are invited to breakfast and to displaytheir cars at the airport. At 9am, the Church Service will be led by Chaplain Steve Green, re-enacting a

WWII church field service.

Landing rides continue from the DNR Boat Launch and the Huey and Bell helicopter rides also

continue. A rare chance for education and stories of first-hand experience will be shared much onSunday as you will have many opportunities to hear from veterans during informative presentations.

These include Larry McLean and Hershel Williams discussing the Flame Thrower; Al King, a

Tuskegee Airman; Johnny Mayo and Gary Lulenski on "War Dogs in Vietnam and How Their Role

Has Changed," as well as "General Patton" by General Patton aka James Goodall.

There will be another Patriotic Parachute Flag Drop and War Bird Fly Over, plus a Missing Man

Formation. If you missed the flame thrower on Saturday or need to watch it once more, your chance is

on Sunday at 1:30pm. The Liberty Jump Team takes to the skies with a WWII Ground Battle ending

the activities before the re-enactors break camp and bring to a close a very exciting, sometimesemotional, but certainly unforgettable experience.

For questions please call Don Alsbro at 269-921-7176, [email protected] or online:

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12. Soldiers advance up the beach re-enacting battlewhile spectators surround the action.

FOR HI-RES versions of the above, please email [email protected] with numbers you request.





2014 Re-Enactment Media Release

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