World War II at Cape Henlopen State Park

[Christopher Walrath]

Delaware DENRec personel are hosting a living histories reenactor weekend at Cape Henlopen State Park in the south end of the park at the barracks compound near battery 519. Home of the 261st CAC, this park, along with a few others along the bay, hoists a number of events throughout the year. This weekend starts on Staurday with battery tours and demonstrations (you should see the flame coming from the 12 inch) and a dance Sat evening. One WWII vet will be there celebrating his birthday at the dance. How cool is that. Some other things going on Sunday. If you go, look up the Leiutenant, Mike ROgers, and tell him I sent you.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

more info at www.fortmiles.org

 

[AgX]

I surely don’t need a re-enactment of WWII.

I’m daily confronted with trenches, bunkers, shrapnel carvings, one story buildings being relics of bombed houses… and people with memories.

 

[jon koss]

Yes indeed... I was in Warsaw last week and the sense of things lost is palpable.

J

I surely don’t need a re-enactment of WWII.

I’m daily confronted with trenches, bunkers, shrapnel carvings, one story buildings being relics of bombed houses… and people with memories.

 

[copake_ham]

Seems a bit too "raw" to me too.

US Civil War (and to some extent Revolutionary War) re-enactments hold a certain "charm". Partly because they are sufficiently distant in time to be beyond anyone's personal memory (i.e. "historical") and because they were often set-piece battles (less so the Civil War - which some call the first "modern war") that they lend themselves to "re-enactments".

I won't criticize the OP's interest and it certainly would be a great photographic opportunity - but it's not my idea of a "fun time" so will have to pass this one up.

 

[rusty71]

Seems a bit too "raw" to me too.

Well, I don't think anyone said it would be fun. At least you might learn something about the kind of equipment used, and you just might meet a real WWII vet and have a chance to say "Thanks". At least on this side of the Atlantic. My dad was a WII Vet, and he never liked to talk about it until near the end of his life. He was a POW in Germany too, but had no hard feelings against the people inspite of ill treatment by some of the guards.
WHen I go to these things I always take some 1940s & 30's vintage cameras, like my Crown Graphic, Argus rangefinder, and Rollei Old Standard. The re-enactors are alway curious and more apt to strike a pose for one of the old beasts.

 

[copake_ham]

Well, I don't think anyone said it would be fun. At least you might learn something about the kind of equipment used, and you just might meet a real WWII vet and have a chance to say "Thanks". At least on this side of the Atlantic. My dad was a WII Vet, and he never liked to talk about it until near the end of his life. He was a POW in Germany too, but had no hard feelings against the people inspite of ill treatment by some of the guards.
WHen I go to these things I always take some 1940s & 30's vintage cameras, like my Crown Graphic, Argus rangefinder, and Rollei Old Standard. The re-enactors are alway curious and more apt to strike a pose for one of the old beasts.

Excuse me, but why did you parse my post and thus remove it's context?

As a matter of fact, my dad, 85 years young, IS a WWII vet.

And, quite frankly, I don't think he'd be anymore interested in such a re-enactment than I would be.

Seeing your own life event as a "re-enactment" has greater connotations such that maybe if it were you then you wouldn't think of it as a form of "entertainment".

Apparently this "event" is timed to Veterens' Day (i.e. Remembrance Day for our Canadian members). This day is intended to be a time of somber reflection of the horrors of war and not some kind of militaristic fireworks display.

It's one thing to remember and honor; it's another to make a show of it. Go have your show - but don't ever question the principles of those who choose to honor the day in a different fashion.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Alright, not a re-enactment. A 'LIVING HISTORY'. Yes, to see the equipment used, to learn a little about the live of those great men who served and lost for us so that we could have a place to share our love and joy that is photography. No, not a Saving Private Ryan encore. Check it out before you bash it. WWII veterans have left with tears in their eyes in admiration that someone actually gets it for a change. Check out the website and see the LOVE that is going into this project. Please. And, in the vein of this being Veteran's day . . .

Thank you to everybody that either has served or knows, is related to, lost and loves one who is or has served. I am in your debt and can NEVER repay it. Thank you.

 

[AgX]

As I seem to have initiated this discussion:

Yes, I think the issue is more complicated than from my initial statement might be deduced. My idea was just to indicate that there are people out there who take a different stand due to their upbringing and their daily encounters.

However, even with those encounters in mind I guess a lot of people could join me in my daily life and just not see those relics I referred to. It is a matter of perception.

Yes, that education is important. Yes, I do look at tanks. But to me there is a difference between a tank at a museum site and a tank nicely polished at a war-re-enactment event with all that cheerful people around. Over here one (still) cannot find such events. But just crossing borders I’m confronted with those non-veterans riding around in summer with their army trucks decorated with cables, ropes and flags. I even saw a Dodge light truck with a German helmet with a bullet hole bolted to the motorcar.
Watching those school kids (even) at a war museum having their greatest time playing with the armour is sickening. Why not take them to the woods over here in winter, give them a spade and let them work further on those huge tank ditches soviet girls of their age taken from their homes were forced to dig. Because it’s no fun?

However, this all is complex. I too as a kid would have joined playing with the armour. And I did build scale models of guns and bombers. Strange enough it was that which led me to my historic interest of today and my anti-military standing. I am anything but sure that such a development is compulsary.

There are thousands of Commonwealth war graves around where I live. Many, many of them bearing an inscription like `he fought for our freedom´. However I found a single one saying `Mummy cries for you´. I leave it that.

 

[Christopher Walrath]

Here! Here!

 

[Jim_in_Kyiv]

Having been raised in southern Delaware and now living in Ukraine - in an apartment rebuilt by German prisoners of war in 1948 (date in the cement) - my view on re-enactments/living history has changed a bit. While I've always been interested in the technical side of the gadgets used (radios especially) the human side is what is brought forward by the people I've talked to here. It's become a matter of less shooting (film), more listening. Would photographing a 'living history' event really do more for me than reading Ernie Pyle or someone's memoirs, or talking to someone who is willing to go into some depth on his feelings? I don't think so.

Granted, if a P-51 landed at the local airport, as a couple did in September 1944 (PM me if you want the story), I'd probably photograph the event. But the reason for shooting the happening would change.

BTW, WWII 'recreations' are becoming more common here, though ones from beyond living memory (15-18th century) are popular.