The Rochester Hills Museum and the Detroit Arsenal of Democracy Museum will present a World War II weekend at the museum on Friday, May 11 from 1-4 p.m. featuring an exhibit on WWII and paratroopers and Saturday, May 12 from 9-4 p.m.
Tribute to the Few – Airborne “All the Way” will feature Allied and Axis campsites, military and armored vehicles, weapon demonstrations, radios and more. In addition, there will be displays and vendors selling military memorabilia. Enjoy re-enactors, battles, equipment, war gaming, videos, lectures, demonstrations, music and food for a patriotic weekend at the museum.
Saturday’s schedule of events features:
9 a.m.: Gates open to the public, all displays open
9 a.m.-4 p.m.: Exhibit on WWII paratroopers in the Van Hoosen Dairy Barn.
9:15 a.m.: Lecture on the History of Airborne and Usage of Parachutes by Steve Mrozek
10:30 a.m.: Practice for public battle
Noon: public battle
12:30 p.m.: Lecture on the 101st Airborne in WWII, by James Bertolino
1:40 p.m.: Lecture on the 101st Airborne in Vietnam, by Bruce Whipple
2:45 p.m.: public battle
3 p.m.: Lecture on gliders usage by Charles L. Day
4:30 – 6 p.m.: Symposium – Airborne All the Way! Meet the veterans
This will also be the final weekend for the museum’s current exhibit of World War II memorabilia featuring airborne units.
Admission is $6 for adults, $3 for seniors and students and free for World War II and Korean conflict veterans and museum members. For more information visit www.driventovictory.com or www.rochesterhills.org or call (248) 656-4663.
The Rochester Hills Museum is located at 1005 Van Hoosen Road, one mile east of Rochester Road and south of Tienken Road. The museum is a 16-acre complex of buildings and grounds and dedicated to regional history. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
