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| 2005 Event Links |
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Second Annual Historic Soldiers Weekend
October 29-30, 2005
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| Troop Re-enactors at the Second Annual Historic Soldiers Weekend. |
On a brisk morning in late October, the Burlington City High School Junior ROTC Color Guard led a parade of military vehicles, veterans and military re-enactors down High Street to mark the beginning of the 2nd Annual Historic Soldiers Weekend. Dozens of authentic tents and campsites filled with military memorabilia lined the riverfront promenade while over 200 men and women dressed in authentic uniforms and period costumes welcomed visitors and residents through our picturesque downtown to step back in time. This “walk through history", featured re-enactors portraying soldiers representing each side from every major American conflict spanning from the French and Indian War through the Vietnam War. As an added bonus, local Burlington County Boy Scout Troop #24, featured an authentic looking campsite circa 1960.
The 2nd South Carolina String Band, from the movie “Gods and Generals”, provided endless hours of listening enjoyment in addition to the many scheduled speakers. Those speakers included local veterans and hero’s, such as Dr. Eugene Richardson and several other representatives from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Tuskegee Airmen; Bill Guarnere, who served with the 101st Airborne Division in WWII and was featured in the HBO mini-series “Band of Brothers” and book by Stephen Ambrose; Mayor Herman Costello who served the US Navy during WWII, and Pastor Sam Montagno who served with the 82nd Airborne in WWII. A German ME 109 Pilot, Gottfried Dulias, was a crowd favorite reflecting on his experiences while serving on the Russian front. The visitors liked his stories so much; that he sold out of his autobiography “Another Bowl of Kaputsa", for the first time ever!
Historic Soldiers Weekend was sponsored by Main Street Burlington and organized by City resident Matt Carroll. Matt, an avid re-enactor and history buff started Soldiers Weekend as an attempt to draw new visitors and tourists to our community while allowing Matt and his committee of fellow re-enactors the opportunity to participate in something they truly love to do. An entire year was spent planning, attracting participants, soliciting sponsorships and donations, and organizing logistics.
All proceeds from the weekend benefit Main Street Burlington and the revitalization of the downtown commercial district.
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Participating in the Historic Soldiers Weekend--2005 were: |
78th Infantry Division |
135th Regiment/ 45th Division German Infantry |
General Robert E Lee |
1st NJ Volunteers |
9th SS Hohenstaufen Group |
Vonn Herrs Light Dragoons |
110th PA Volunteer Infantry |
Lenape Indians |
14th NJ co H |
HMI US Civil War Engineers |
Von Donop’s Hessian |
2nd Armored Division / 741st Battalion |
6th US Colored Troops |
US Civil war Submarines –
Infernal Machines |
Co. A, 37th North Carolina Volunteer Troops |
USS Constitution US Marines,
HMI 1812 |
1st North Carolina Artillery,
Battery C |
Forney’s Battalion
US Marines Civil War |
General Meade Historical Society |
14th NJ co K |
Air Victory Museum |
German Hochgebirgsjäger Btl. 4 |
Camp Olden (Civil War) |
193rd Soviet Rifles |
22nd North Carolina |
Camp Middleton |
Korean War US Infantry |
South Jersey Vehicle Preservation Association |
Burlington City ROTC
Color Guard |
TROOP # 24 Boy Scouts |
2nd South Carolina String band |
3rd PA Lights |
Ned Hector –
Revolutionary War Hero |
10th SS Frundsberg |
9th VA Cavalry |
WWII Signal Corp- Pigoneering |
114th 1st Battalion Company C NJANG |
6th Cavalry Division US WWII |
WWII Connections |
3./Fallschirmjager Pionier Btl 1 |
2nd PA Battalion,
Continental Army |
Luftwaffe Aircrew Re-enactors Association (LARA) |
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Guest Speakers: |
Senator Diane Allen |
NJ Assemblyman Jack Conners |
Mayor Scocca |
WWII Veteran Herman Costello US Navy |
WWII Veteran Bill Guarnere 101st Airborne (Band of Brothers) |
WWII Veteran Pastor Sam Montagno 82nd Airborne |
WWII Veteran Dr. Eugene Richardson, USAAF and
The “Tuskegee Airmen” |
WWII Veteran Gottfried Dulias ME-109 Fighter pilot |
Vietnam Veteran Jim Cava |
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Special Thanks to: |
With the help and support of these businesses and
organizations we were able to host this event.
The Onieda Boat Club, Thommy G's, Café Gallery, Burlington County College, Donna Boone and Main Street Burlington, The City Of Burlington Historical Society, The Burlington County Historical Society, The Burlington Design Center / Benjamin Moore Paint, Page Funeral Home Farmers and Mechanics Bank, J & B Bakery, NJ Transit- The river LINE, The Burlington City Fire Department, The Burlington City Police Department, especially Lt. Fine, Burlington County Highway Department, Burlington County Chamber of Commerce, The Greater Burlington Chamber of Commerce, Edmar Inc., The Antique Emporium, Colonial Burlington Foundation114th 1st Battalion
Company C
SFC Juan Plata
559 High Street
Burlington, NJ 08016
609-386-0547
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