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Contact: Dan Vermilya, 717-253-5971
2020 marks the 75th anniversary of the Allied victory in World War II. With this anniversary in mind, and the health and safety guidance surrounding Covid-19, the Eisenhower National Historic Site is making our annual World War II weekend a VIRTUAL event. This new virtual event will span from September 12-20 and feature a series of free programs that explore a variety of aspects of World War II, focusing on the ways the war and its legacy are still felt for us today. These programs will include interviews with distinguished historians, profiles on WWII soldiers buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery, and living history vignettes discussing a variety of experiences during the Second World War.All programs are pre-recorded, and will be streamed on the Eisenhower National Historic Site Facebook Page. There is no on site, in person component of this event.
Saturday, September 12
- 9 AM—"These Honored Dead: WWII Burials in the Gettysburg National Cemetery”-Join us as we begin a new series discussing some of the over 500 WWII soldiers buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.
- 2 PM—Tech/4 William C. Olson’s story shows us how one fallen serviceman was brought home after his death during the Battle of the Bulge—and how his family remembered him.
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7 PM—An airman from Pittsburgh, PA, 2nd Lt. James Pogue was killed on the day before the German surrender in North Africa. His story reminds us of the price of victory in the North African Campaign.
Sunday, September 13
- 9 AM—The Kundla and Materewicz brothers are buried side by side here in the Gettysburg National Cemetery. Join us as we follow their stories during WWII.
- 2 PM—A Gettysburg College graduate and native of Altoona, PA, 2nd Lt. Ralph Stehley's connection to Gettysburg reminds us that his story was one of service to his community, his family, and his country.
- 7 PM—PFC Paul Heller was killed on Guadalcanal in October 1942. At just fifteen years old, he may be the youngest American killed in action in WWII.
Monday September 14
- 10 AM—"WWII Accolades in the Eisenhower Home”-Join Park Curator Michael Florer and Park Guide Alyce Evans for an up-close look at WWII related items inside the historic Eisenhower home.
Tuesday September 15
- 10 AM—Join us as we follow the story of John Zuk, the son of Austrian immigrants, who was killed fighting in Sicily in July 1943.
- 3 PM—The son of Italian immigrants, airman Joseph Logero's war took place in the skies above Europe, coming to an end at the Battle of the Bulge.
Wednesday September 16
- 10 AM—Join us to discover the stories of three casualties from the attack on Pearl Harbor who are buried here in Gettysburg.
- 3 PM—A sailor on the USS Terror, Joseph Coradetti was killed during a kamikaze attack near Okinawa on May 1, 1945.
- 8 PM—"A Conversation with Ian Toll”-Award winning historian Ian Toll joins us to discuss the War in the Pacific. Mr. Toll is the author of Pacific Crucible, The Conquering Tide, and Twilight of the Gods.
Thursday September 17
- 8 AM—"Camp Sharpe: A Different Kind of Warfare”-Park Ranger Dennis Flake takes us to Camp Sharpe, a psychological warfare training center here in Gettysburg during WWII.
- 12 PM—"Gettysburg’s German POW Camp: Helping the War Effort”-Park Ranger Dennis Flake discusses a German POW camp on the Gettysburg battlefield during WWII.
- 4 PM—Gettysburg native Earl Swope Jr. was killed in action during the Battle of the Bulge—one of over 100 soldiers from Adams County, PA, to die during WWII.
- 8 PM—Join us as we share the Facebook livestream of the opening of the Eisenhower Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, DC.
Friday September 18
- 8 AM—"Canadians on D-Day”-Explore the role of Canadian soldiers on D-Day with living historian Andrew Frantz.
- 12 PM—Tune in as we visit HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and explore the men and equipment of one of the most famous units of the war in Europe.
- 4 PM—"Americans on D-Day”-Join us as we learn about the equipment and motivations of American soldiers on D-Day with living historian Jon Tracey.
- 8 PM—PFC Clairus L. Riggs—a Cambria County native—is one of 12 soldiers who were killed on D-Day who are buried in the Gettysburg National Cemetery.
Saturday September 19
- 8 AM—Start off your Saturday morning with Thomas Frezza from the U.S. Navy History and Heritage Command and “Cooking with History,” making a U.S. Navy breakfast from 1945.
- 12 PM—"Connections to the Past: Remembering World War II”-Join the staff of Eisenhower National Historic Site, Gettysburg National Military Park, and special guest Susan Eisenhower as we remember our family members who served in World War II.
- 4 PM—Join the Furious Fourth Living History group as they go into the foxholes of Normandy and explore daily life for GIs in 1944.
- 8PM—"A Conversation with Rick Atkinson”-Pulitzer Prize winning historian Rick Atkinson sits down for a conversation about his research and writing, the leadership of General Dwight Eisenhower, and the enduring meaning of World War II. Atkinson is the author of the best-selling Liberation Trilogy on World War II.
Sunday September 20
- 8 AM—Ike and the Monuments Men-Park Guide Alyce Evans discusses Eisenhower, the “Monuments Men,” and the effort to save classic works of art during World War II.
- 12 PM—Join us as we explore the story of the 92nd Infantry Division—the only African American division to see combat in Europe during WWII.
- 4 PM—Efficiency, Production and Morale: A History of the Springfield Armory during WWII—Tune in as we chat with our friends from the Springfield Armory National Historic Site in Massachusetts.
- 8 PM—"A Family of Service”-Robert and Dorothy McCormick both served in the U.S. Navy during WWII, and Dorothy’s father, General John Stewart Bragdon, has his own special connection to Eisenhower as well. Join Ranger Dan Vermilya to learn more of their story.
All virtual programs are free and will appear on the Eisenhower National Historic Site Facebook page.
Last updated: September 8, 2020