2018 WWII Weekend Living History Volunteer Information Letter

Dear Living History Volunteer:

The Eisenhower National Historic Site at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania, will be hosting a World War II living history encampment September 15-16, 2018. THIS YEAR THERE WILL BE MANDATORY UNIT REGISTRATION CUT OFF DATE ON AUGUST 15, 2018. If your unit fails to register by then it will not be allowed to participate.

This program will primarily portray an Allied camp in 1944 ETO. However, German and other Axis forces will be allowed as well. We do prohibit groups that portray Nazi political units such as the SS from participation.

The main focus will be on interpreting Army life in General Eisenhower's theater of operations. A few living history groups will also represent the other theaters of the war, the Navy, the Marines and the Home Front. We are interested in having knowledgeable living history volunteers who can tell the story of the common soldier in World War II. We would like to have your organization participate in this event.

The World War II Weekend has the highest visitation to our site annually. Last year we had well over 600 living history participants. We also had several distinguished WWII veterans and historian authors as special guest speakers.

If your living history organization plans to attend, please fill out the Agreement for Organization/ Group Voluntary Services Form, one per unit. E-mail to:
Ahna Wilson
or Snail mail to:
World War II Event Registration
Eisenhower National Historic Site
1195 Baltimore Pike, Suite 100
Gettysburg, PA 17325

In addition to the Agreement for Voluntary Services Form please also fill out the on-line Living History Group Registration Form for your unit and submit that to us as well. This year there will be a deadline for group registration! Your unit must register before August 15!

Participating units should arrive Friday, September 14, any time after 8 a.m. and on into the night, in order to set up their camp. Or they can do so early Saturday morning before 9 a.m. when the camp opens to the public. Someone from your unit must be in your camp the entire time we are open to the public both Saturday and Sunday. This is an authentic impressions only program, so bring only appropriate camp gear. The camp will be set up in a large level field east of the Eisenhower Home.

Participant parking is available on site. Water as well as portable toilets will be provided and public restrooms will be available in the lower level of the site's barn. Arrangements will be made for shower facilities in town to be available for Saturday evening of the event. Lunchtime food service will be available on site both days courtesy of a local volunteer fire department. We will also sponsor a WWII USO style dance (free to those signed in as participants) featuring the Gettysburg Big Band that will be held Saturday night at the Gettysburg National Military Park Visitor Center. A cash bar will be available at the dance. No consumption of alcohol is allowed in the camp.

Unless authorized by National Park Service staff, no firing of ammunition including blanks, or detonation of explosives devices, are to be clone at this event. Our event coincides on Saturday with the battle re-enactment at New Oxford which is a totally separate event. If you participate in the New Oxford event be sure to secure any leftover blanks when coming into our site. Edged weapons such as bayonets must remain in their scabbards except when being used for demonstrations at a safe distance of at least seven paces from the next person. Re-enactors will be expected to conduct themselves as professional history docents and follow safety guidelines.

If your unit is interested in attending this event, please contact us as soon as possible and let us know the approximate numbers we can expect and the type of demonstration or talks you plan to present.

If you have questions contact us at [phone]. Or e-mail Ahna Wilson.