2007 Event Links

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Fourth Annual Historic Soldiers Weekend
October 27-28, 2007

Visitors were treated to a historic aerobatics show above the Fourth Annual Historic Soldiers Weekend courtesy of the Air Victory Museum.

The Fourth Annual Historic Soldiers Weekend was another great success despite the enormous amount of rain we received Friday and Saturday. Again there were various impressions represented this year, including Revolutionary War troops, War of 1812 drum and Fifes, Civil War units, Spanish American War and Indian war Calvary troops, A working Civil War hospitals and including blacksmiths, WWII soldiers from both sides, Vietnam soldiers and our own National Guard. These participants turned what could have been a very tough weekend "weather-wise" into a successful weekend. Air Victory museum had their aircraft on display for youngsters to experience the feel of a real cockpit, as well as several tents full of military artifacts. AVM also was responsible for the six vintage WWII planes that flew over the event on Sunday and dazzled the crowd with their acrobatics. Thank you Air Victory Museum!

Hundreds of spectators attended the event, stopping to hear the first person accounts, the guest speakers, and even to purchase an autographed book or two. The event again drew crowds that consisted of people of all interests, from WWII veterans who wanted to see their old equipment to grade school students with their homework assignments in hand.

Re-enactors endured the rainy weather Saturday with a smile, handing out their expertise on their respective subjects to the public. This year's best display was voted to be the 10th German display, which included several period tents, and various weapons, displays. They even had a simulated minefield for the crowd to negotiate through.

This year's guest speaker list included several authors and veterans such as:
Assemblyman Jack Conners, Chairman Military & Veterans Affairs, Vietnam Veteran Lt. Colonel Al Bancroft, Director of Military Affairs (Camden Co.), Captain Andy Jackson, Korean War Army Veteran, The Blockhouse Soldiers, Peter Fantacone, WWII D-Day Veteran.

Also appearing where several authors, such as: Carmen Fiore, author of Young Heroes of the Civil War, Ivan Paul Mehosky, author of The Story of a Soldier (101st Airborne/506th), Gottfried Dulias, WWII German ME109 pilot and author of Another Bowl of Kapusta, Sharon Wells Wagner, author of Red Wells: An American Soldier in WWII, Goerge Waple, veteran and author of Country Boy Gone Soldiering.

This years main act again was Abbott and Costello (the ultimate A and C), who performed marvelously, capturing an even bigger crowd each time they went on stage and when they made the rounds about the encampment.

The Army National Guard out of Burlington City, Thanks to their highly professional NCO's, brought tents for not only their own display but for the authors and veterans as well. Equipped with vehicles, weapons and a camp display, they were a popular stop for the public.

We are looking forward to another great year at the Fifth Annual Historic Soldiers Weekend in 2009, and we hope you will be a part of it! Details to follow.

Special Thanks to: With the help and support of these businesses and organizations we were able to host this event. Main Street Burlington, City of Burlington Historical Society, Colonial Burlington Foundation, Costco, Burlington City Police & Fire Depts., Burlington City McDonalds Burlington County College, Burlington County Historical Society Burlington Design Center/Benjamin Moore Paints Café Gallery, Chygoes Island Properties , EDMARS/ GlensCookware.com Endeavor Fire Dept.,Farmers and Mechanics Bank, Foundation for the Preservation of Civil War History , J & B Bakery, Page Funeral Home, Lamplighters Confections, My Sticky Bunns Bakery, NJ Transit- The River line, Phillips Furniture Phi Kappa Sigma Fraternity, PHH Mortgage Services Regiment 135/45th Infanterie Division SAMS Club, The Antique Emporium , The Oneida Boat Club UMMS Ice Cream Parlor , VFW Post 1817 Burlington, VFW Post 2445 Maple Shade WebHoundStudios.com, Whitebriar Bed and Breakfast, Yorkshire Neighborhood Alliance, 78th Infantry Division WWII Living History Group 114th 1st Battalion including: SFC Garcia SFC Juan Plata SSGT Archer SSGT Cassidy 559 High Street Burlington , NJ 08016 609-386-0547 Special Thanks to the following Photographers who provided Photos for this Event: AVM pilots Screaming Eagle Sid Levin Richard Timbers II - Jazz Click Photography Tim McCarthy - 78th ID