"Lest We Forget"

[blackwolfe]

There is a local veterans group in Southwest Michigan that has put on some fantastic events the last few years to honor and commemorate veterans and to assure that our military history  is remembered.  In the past this group has staged reinactments of beach landings on local Lake Michigan beaches and the battle for the airport along with large multiple flag displays.  If you're close to southwest Michigan, enjoy these kind of presentations, or looking for a weekend get away this summer you might want to consider this event.  I have included a couple of links to their sight along with parts of a couple of theur pages.  I also suggest you look at their websight at some of the reinactments and events they have hosted in the past.


Link to "Lest We Forget" and part of their home page:

http://www.lestweforgetusa.org/index.html


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



Itinerary for this years events and a link to it:

http://www.lestweforgetusa.org/veteranstribute2010.htm

Lest We Forget American Veterans' Traveling Tribute Itinerary

June 17-20, 2010

LWF Sponsored Events -
April 6 - Piece of My Heart" Twin City Productions play sponsored by LWF
April 24, 8am - Comcast Work Day, Benton Harbor VFW
June 5 - LWF Benefit Auction, SW MI Regional Airport
June 12 - Veterans' Honor Flags posted at St. Joseph HS
June 16th - Motorcade AVTT Wall escort through Berrien County


American Veterans Traveling Tribute includes the following displays -
Vietnam Wall-80% the size of the wall in D.C. 370' in length, 8.5' high at center
WWII-Display
Korea-Display
Desert Storm-Display
9/11-lighted twin towers with 3,000 names
Iraq/Afghanistan-4,000+ dog tags of casualties (Cost of Freedom Memorial)
Walk of Heroes-stand up heroes
Vietnam Remembered-art display


Guests scheduled to appear -
Hershel Williams, Marine, Iwo Jima, MOH
CPT US Navy (ret) Chaplain Stanley Beach
John Steer, Vietnam Veteran, Singer and Minister


Planned Displays -
WWI Display-honoring Frank Buckles (last living WWI vet) David DeJonge
Echo Taps-ST Joseph HS to Lakeshore HS and back
Medevac Huey from Vietnam on Static Display
Liberty Sisters singing period songs of Vietnam Era
Michigan Vietnam Wall-Honoring all MI Vietnam casualties
"WILD THING" 5 Ton Vietnam Gun Truck
Climbing Wall and Simulator Games-US Army and MI NG
Military Vendors and Refreshments
Jerry Lindquist-Master Modeler
Dale Hemphill, American Spirit Flag Designer
Patriotic paintings by nationally famous artist Rick Herter of Kalamazoo
20th Century Military Museum
Agent Orange Display
Veterans Stories-All conflicts
Vietnam Re-enactors-25th Infantry Div (Wolfhounds)
Veterans Honor Flags-sponsored by BH/SJ Exchange Club
Wreath Laying Ceremonies (Blue Star Mothers, LWF. Am. Legion, VFW, and individuals)
Fly-over by war birds and military aircraft (tentative)
Background music-Randy Poole, DJ-Good Ole Time Music
Missing Man Display
Military Traveling Museum by T.W. Lane
Programs Honoring Vietnam War Dogs
"Landing Zone English"-Johnny Mayo and his trained dogs
Larry Chilcoat-VN Dog Handler & Sponsor of DC Dog Memorial



Event Schedule (preliminary - times and events to be verified)
 
Wednesday, June 16th
Breakfast and Native American Patriotic send off for motorcade, Four Winds Casino, New Buffalo
Motorcade escorts the Wall thru Berrien County arriving about Noon at St. Joseph High School
Set-up of the Wall and displays begins
Presentation by Vietnam Battlefield Tours on 2011 VN trip (evening)-SJHS
 
Thursday, June 17th
10am - Opening Ceremonies-Colors, Wreath Laying, Addresses
11 AM - Wall and displays open to public
1-4 PM Veterans Stories
7PM -"War Dogs, America's Forgotten Heroes" movie at Celebration Cinema
 
Friday, June 18th
1-3 PM Chaplain Beach-"Thoughts On Vietnam", Rev. Steer-Vietnam Songs, David DeJonge-"Interviews with WWI Soldiers"
7pm - Ceremony Honoring Berrien County KIA in Vietnam and Bob Heft, Designer of America's Fifty Star Flag
7 to 9pm - Echo Taps-80-100 buglers sound Taps from SJHS to LHS and back
Pledge and Missing Man Ceremony by Chaplain Beach
Anthem sung by John Steer
Poem read by Ron Weber
Honoring Bob Heft-Don Alsbro, Dale Hemphill, TW Lane
Ed Heft honoring his Uncle Robert Heft, designer of 50 star flag
Honoring Arthur "Jibby" Jibilian Forgotten 500 Radio Operator
Presentations by-Hershel Williams, WWII MOH; and Bud Baker VN DSC
"55,000 Names On the Wall" Sung by Rev. John Steer
American Flag presentations to Berrien County KIA-Vietnam
Gold Stars presented to BC KIA by Blue Star Mothers
Wreath presentations by LWF and all community
 
Saturday, June 19th
10am to noon 126th Michigan National Guard Army Band Concert
National Anthem and Military Fly Over
Liberty Sisters song concert
1 PM Honor Flight on Huey Medivac 369
2-4 PM Afternoon Program
Chaplain Beach-Names On the Wall
Program Honoring 4,000+ dogs killed in VN and their Handlers
Johnny Mayo - VN Dog Handler with his trained dogs
Larry Chillcoat, VN Dog Handler and sponsor of War Dog Monument in DC
LWF St Joseph's Dog statute on display
Agent Orange presentation
7 PM Evening Program to include
"Lest We Forgetfulls Precision Drill Team"
60's Sing-a-long
Presentations by Hershel Williams, Gary Blied, David DeJonge
Songs and Messages by John Steer
 
Sunday, June 20th
10am Ecumenical Church Service led by Chaplains Stan Beach, John Steer, Hershel Williams and Bud Baker
3 PM Closing Ceremonies
Retire the Colors


 
Location
St Joseph, Michigan High School
2521 Stadium Dr, St Joseph MI 49085
 
Event Contacts
Don Alsbro                                                               269-925-7176
Lew Burchard, VP and Chief of Operations              269-429-1006
Jim Brinkmann, Finance & Sponsorships                  269-983-7700
Bill Langbehn, Communications                               269-921-8031
Vicki Dunlop, Public Relations & Media                     269-468-5679
Melinda Michael, Auction & Tribute-Escort Ride        269-876-2923
 
Website: www.lestweforgetusa.org
 
Itinerary in PDF Format, click here

[kilopaparomeo]

Good stuff wolfe.  Here's some pix I posted from the local paper of last year's event.  Really excellent event from my perspective.  The reenactors were very friendly and enjoyed talking about their equipment.

There was a good Pacific island landing, a D-Day landing and a good battle out at the airport.  It was very interesting to watch the M1 Garands get all mucked up  and jam a lot in the sand.  Sorta shoots down the theory that the M16 is the first rifle to ever have problems in a dirty environment, huh?

Here are some links and a few sample pix

http://heraldpalladium.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=781403&CategoryID=11578&ListSubAlbums=0

http://heraldpalladium.mycapture.com/mycapture/folder.asp?event=781412&CategoryID=11578&ListSubAlbums=0

[jnevis]

Those shots are great KPR.  A little out of the way for me but a grat thing.

[blackwolfe]

Forgot to mention in the first post that also that weekend in the area at my local Berrien County Sportsman club is the Comptons Traditional Bowhunters Rendezvous.  Here is a link to that post:

http://www.downrange.tv/forum/index.php?topic=12153.0

[philw]

They went with songs to the battle, they were young.
Straight of limb, true of eyes, steady and aglow.
They were staunch to the end against odds uncounted,
They fell with their faces to the foe.
They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old:
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning,
We will remember them.

Lest we forget



it is ANZAC Day  on the 25th 



If you can read this  thank a Teacher,   if you can read it in English  thank a Digger 

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