Reenactments

[IrishOne]

Just did my first WW2 reenactment 2 weeks ago with my father in law. Cost a pretty penny to get all the gear, but I can't remember the last time I had so much fun. Anyone here get into this? I'll post pics when I get to my pc.

[Guppy35]

Who are you again? 

What unit from WW2 is your focus?

[IrishOne]

Who are you again? 

What unit from WW2 is your focus?

Hi Dan! How have you been?  Long time since I've been here, planning to buy a month next week and give it another shake. We represent the 2nd Armored Cavalry. It's loads of fun dressing up in historically accurate gear and running around shooting blanks at each other. I just love the history. We and a bunch of others set up tents full of all sorts of weapons and gear and the local schoolkids came out. Was great answering their questions and seeing them show actual interest. Helped get their attention shooting a 37mm AT gun behind them lol.

[IrishOne]

http://fox6now.com/2015/05/16/theyre-golden-to-us-theyre-heroes-ozaukee-county-honors-veterans-with-world-war-ii-reenactment/#ooid=5xMnI0dTr2TBlPbTWGo898m9WFxDovhH

[Guppy35]

Good to know you are still kicking Irish

Are you using repro stuff or original?  Mix of both?

[Obie303]

Hi Irish.  I went to a WW2 Reenactment two years ago in Gettysburg.  It was done over a weekend in September and my wife and I had a great time.  We didn't get a chance to see any actual battle that day, but there were many participants who were willing to share the history of the units the represented. 

I did find a website for the 2015 weekend in Gettysburg.  It looks like a lot of fun again.

http://www.nps.gov/eise/planyourvisit/2014-wwii-weekend.htm

Closer to my home is the Collings Foundation WW2 Reenactment in Stow Massachusetts.  It's called "Battle for the Airfield"  I plan on attending this event this year. 
 
For those interested, the link is here;

http://www.collingsfoundation.org/event/battle-for-the-airfield-wwii-re-enactment-and-veteran-roundtable/

A youtube video from 2014 is here;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poBCuW-33BQ

Like you said, the men and some women who get involved with this really enjoy it.  Congrats to you and good luck. 

Obie

[Arlo]

I think about it from time to time. Waxahachie, Texas ain't far:

http://www.waxahachietx.com/world-war-ii-battle-re-enactment/collection_d1f39786-2b8f-11e2-88b6-001a4bcf887a.html







Apparently being old and fat isn't considered an image problem in this reenactment arena.

[Kenne]

I do  WW2 82AB

[cpxxx]

Looks like a load of fun. We have them here in Ireland too, re-enacting everything from Vikings to Napoleonic and ever Irish war of independence and civil war.

At the dropzone I used to fly for we had a bunch of 'paratroopers' turn up to learn how to parachute for real. A couple of Fallschirmjager and 101st airborne in full gear. They were hoping to take part in one of the jumps in Holland or France to commemorate D day and Market Garden so they wanted to get some experience. But of course they also needed to jump with round chutes to be really correct.

Their gear was very authentic but replicas of course. Genuine Fallschirmjager helmets cost thousands of dollars and even para versions of the US M1 helmet make top dollar.

If you tried to use genuine WW2 gear you would go broke fast.  But some of the reenactors here earn some money doing TV and documentaries where re enactments are needed.

[Arlo]

I do  WW2 82AB

(Image removed from quote.)

You kinda look like the 'John Denver of WWII paratroopers' in your pic.  (Looks fun.)