The Down Range Forum
Member Section => Down Range Cafe => Topic started by: blackwolfe on April 04, 2012, 09:36:10 AM
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Thought I would post this for anyone who might be interested in visiting Southwest Michigan or lives nearby. The Lest We Forget Southwest Michigan Organization has been putting on and sponsoring events for a number of years in my area. They do an excellent job for a very worth reason. I have been to a few of their activities in the past and have always been pleased. I'll post a link to their web page. You might look at their past events to see what they have done and mark your calender to attend this years event.
http://www.lestweforgetswmi.org/
MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS are held the first Wednesday of every month
Time: 9:30AM Coffee & Socializing
10AM Meeting Start
Location: SW MI Regional Airport, Benton Harbor, MI
HOLD THE DATE - WWII Re-enactment
June 29 to July 1, 2012
Please check here for information as it becomes available
“Iwo Jima Flag Raising”
February 23, 1945
Lest We Forget's 2012 WWII re-enactment will recreate the famous flag raising at Iwo Jima on the dunes of Tiscornia Beach,
St. Joseph, MI, Saturday June 30, 2012.
Don't miss this dramatic recreation of military history. There will be VIP seating for veterans and their families on the North Pier.
A dramatic parachute flag drop will open this year's event on the beach.
US and Allied troops re-enacting two beach landings - European and Pacific, will be brought ashore in authentic landing craft to establish beachheads. Vintage WWII aircraft will provide cover for the landings while enemy defenders will try to repulse our boys with antiaircraft and machine gun fire from pill boxes and foxholes in the dunes.
The beach activities end with the re-enactment of the historic Iwo Jima flag raising over Mount Suribachi.
Then it is on to the SW MI Regional Airport where displays of armor, vintage WWII aircraft, and the re-enactors' bivouac.
WWII Medal of Honor and veterans will speak, there will be equipment demonstrations, historic displays, and land battles.
A weekend of fun and history awaits the family!
A message from LWF President Don Alsbro:
Have you ever felt that history, particularly military history, isn't being taught in our schools like it was in the "good old" times? Why is it that many of our high school graduates, some say a majority, don't know who we fought in WWII, who bombed us at Pearl Harbor or worst yet, believe that the holocaust never happened? Our children are not being taught the basic principles that have made this country great!
"Lest We Forget" was started by a group of veterans who felt that patriotism was too important of a subject to be given the short shrift that it presently receives in our schools and community. Our operating principle is "To brighten the future we must illuminate the past."
We've "illuminated the past" through WWII re-enactments, patriotic concerts, presentations by Medal of Honor recipients, presentation of the American flag to Frank Buckles, our last WWI veteran, TV telecasts to schools throughout the country, participation in local parades, made presentations in our schools on the flag, presented college classes on WWII, Korea and Vietnam wars, published a book of WWII stories by local veterans and much more.
Remember, "Freedom is NOT free!"
Patriotically Yours,
Don Alsbro, President
COL, US Army (ret)
Lest We Forget
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blackwolf, thanks for the posting. First I've ever heard of this event. Has anyone made AAA or Pure Michigan aware of this. It would be an excellent opportunity for all generations to honor the men and women of the Greatest Generation for their service and sacrifice. Going to put it on my calender.