World War II Weekend

With spring just on the horizon, our WWII committee is in high gear planning the 6th annual WWII Weekend at Graeme Park, in Horsham, PA. As in previous years, we'll have living history camp displays, battle reenactments and demonstrations, WWII veterans and honor ceremonies, swing dance lessons, a big band concert with the West Chester Swing Kings, and the comedic antics of the Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show. Look for more details in the coming weeks, but in the meantime, here is the schedule we have tentatively planned.

Tentative Schedule - Subject to Change

SATURDAY, APRIL 30TH
Periodically throughout the day - Tours of the historic Keith House
9:30 AM - Gates Open
10:00 AM - Flag Raising and Singing of the National Anthem with Mimi Drummond
10:15 AM - Weapons and Equipment Demonstration
11:00 AM - The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show
12:00 NOON - Battle Reenactment
1:00 PM - The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show 
2:00 PM - Rosie the Riveter (Mae Krier)
2:30 PM - The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show 
3:00 PM - Battle Reenactment
3:45 PM - Swing Dance Lessons
5:00 PM - USO Dance with the West Chester Swing Kings

SUNDAY, MAY 1ST
Periodically throughout the day - Tours of the historic Keith House
8:30 AM - WWII Field Church Service
9:30 AM - Gates Open
9:30 AM - WWII Field Church Service
10:00 AM - Flag Raising and Singing of the National Anthem with Mimi Drummond
10:15 AM - Weapons and Equipment Demonstration
11:00 AM - Rosie the Riveter (Mae Krier)
11:45 AM - The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show
12:30 PM - Swing Dance Lessons
1:30 PM - Honor Guard with State Representatives Todd Stephens, Kate Harper, and Tom Murt, Twp. Mgr. Bill Walter, and Horsham Twp. Counsel Members; Honoring of Veterans and Lighting of Luminary Bags with Rep. Tom Murt
2:30 PM - Battle Reenactment
3:15 PM - The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show
4:00 PM - Close of Event

Battle Reenactments, Living History Displays, Period Vehicles and Ceremonies to Honor WWII Vets all Part of WWII Weekend at Graeme Park

On May 2-3 the grounds of Graeme Park will be transformed into a World War II arena as reenactors set up living history displays and camps representing the WWII European Theater and stage battles between American and German troops on the property. 

The large event tent will be transformed into a venue for U.S.O. style entertainment including The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show, 

(See a short clip of the classic "Who's on First" from Fun-n-Sun, Lakeland, FL, March 2012)

the West Chester SwingKings performing favorites from the 1940s, 

(See a clip of their performance of Jump, Jive and Wail at Twin Brook Winery)

swing dance lessons, and a concert of Patriotic music.

Additionally there will be weapons demonstrations, period vehicles (military and non-military) on display, 

a simulation air craft brought in by the Wings of Freedom Aviation Museum, 

Allied and German camps, represented by the following reenactment groups:

Allied Units

35th Infantry Division Recon
45th Infantry Division
101st Airbourne 506th C E

5th Rangers

103rd Infantry Division

78th Infantry Division 309th Regiment

4th Infantry Division

88th Infantry Division

British Paratroopers

4th Armored Division

28th Infantry Division 109th Company L

30th Infantry Division MPs

1st Marine Division 5th Marines

German Units

45th Infanterie Division
352nd Pioneers

5th Fallschirmjagers

vendors, including:

Carl Koslo Productions

Charms

Classic Designs, Inc.

GI Kenny

The Knife Guy

Mark’s Militaria

Nomadés Collection

Picacho Peak Collectibles

Susquehanna Trading Company

veterans’ non-profits, World War II veterans, and a luminary ceremony and gun salute to honor the vets. State Representatives Tom Murt and Todd Stephens will be speaking at these honor ceremonies, along with Horsham Township Manager Bill Walker and Horsham Township Council Members Mark McCouch, President, Deborah Tustin, Vice President, and Gregory Nesbitt, Member.

This program is being presented by the Friends of Graeme Park, with the cooperation of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Sponsors for the event include PECOEnergy, Verizon, Black Horse Auto Body Shop, Babylon Business Campus, and ClassicPistol.

The cost is $12/day; $5/kids 13-17; free/veterans and kids 12 and under. A special household rate of $30/day is also available for two adults and accompanying children. Call 215-343-0965 for details. Directions are available on our website at www.graemepark.org 

SATURDAY, MAY 2

9:30 a.m. – Gates Open

Periodically throughout day – Tours of the Historic Keith House

9:30 - 4:00—Vendors & Displays—Visitors can tour Allied and German camps staffed by reenactors, see period military and non-military vehicle displays, meet and talk to WWII veterans, shop with vendors and learn about various non-profit veterans organizations and the services they offer.

10:00 a.m. – Flag Raising & Singing of the National Anthem—Join us at the flag pole for the raising of the American flag and singing of the National Anthem, led by Mimi Drummond

10:15 a.m. – Weapons Demonstration—Members of the American and German reenactment groups will demonstrate how their WWII weapons work and fire off a few blanks. 

11:00 a.m.  – Camp Tours—Guided golf cart tours through the camps for those with difficulty walking the property.

12:00 noon – Battle Reenactment—Join us in the field behind the tent for a battle reenactment between American and German troops. Limited bleacher seating is first-come-first-served with some seats reserved for WWII Vets and handicapped/elderly.

12:45 p.m. – The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show—Bill Riley and Joe Ziegler transform themselves into Bud Abbott and Lou Costello through vintage dress and an authentic recreation of the team’s mannerisms and vocal stylings. They perform many of the vaudeville and burlesque routines made famous by Bud and Lou on stage, screen, radio and television, including the classic baseball routine, “Who’s On First?”. 

1:30 p.m. – Swing Dance Lessons—Vince Masciarelli, a professional dance instructor from Glenside, PA, will be teaching some basic dance moves to the audience.

2:15 p.m. – The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show 

2:45 p.m. – Honoring of Veterans—State Representatives Tom Murt will speak briefly and honor the veterans and those for whom luminaries have been purchased by reading their names. Following the dedication and lighting of the luminaries, a gun salute will honor our veterans.

3:15 p.m. – Battle Reenactment

3:45 p.m. – USO Dance and Swing Concert featuring the West Chester Swing Kings—Now that you know how to swing, put your feet in motion to the West Chester Swing Kings as they play hits from the 1940s through today, including favorites from Glenn Miller, Count Basie, and Benny Goodman.


SUNDAY, MAY 3
9:30 a.m. – Gates Open

Periodically throughout day – Tours of the Historic Keith House

9:30 - 4:00—Vendors & Displays—Visitors can tour Allied and German camps staffed by reenactors, see period military and non-military vehicle displays, meet and talk to WWII veterans, shop with vendors and learn about various non-profit veterans organizations and the services they offer.

9:30 a.m. – Church Service Reenactment—Reenactors will participate in a period battlefield church service.

10:00 a.m. – Flag Raising & Singing of the National Anthem—Join us at the flag pole for the raising of the American flag and singing of the National Anthem, led by Mickey Goldhaber.

10:15 a.m. – Weapons Demonstration—Members of the American and German reenactment groups will demonstrate how their WWII weapons work and fire off a few blanks. 

11:00 a.m. – Camp Tours—Guided golf cart tours through the camps for those with difficulty walking the property.

11:00 a.m. – The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show—Bill Riley and Joe Ziegler transform themselves into Bud Abbott and Lou Costello through vintage dress and an authentic recreation of the team’s mannerisms and vocal stylings. They perform many of the vaudeville and burlesque routines made famous by Bud and Lou on stage, screen, radio and television, including the classic baseball routine, “Who’s On First?”. 

11:30 a.m. – Live Patriotic Music—A spirited concert of patriotic and military favorites by Mickey and Stanley Goldhaber.

12:30 p.m. – Swing Dance Lessons—Vince Masciarelli, a professional dance instructor from Glenside, PA, will be teaching some basic dance moves to the audience.

1:30 p.m. – Military Honor Guard—State Representative Todd Stephens, Horsham Township Manager Bill Walker and Horsham Township Council Members Mark McCouch, President, Deborah Tustin, Vice President, and Gregory Nesbitt, Member will speak briefly, followed by a Military Honor Guard ceremony.

2:00 p.m. – Battle Reenactment—Join us in the field behind the tent for a battle reenactment between American and German troops. Limited bleacher seating is first-come-first-served with some seats reserved for WWII Vets and handicapped/elderly.

2:45 p.m. – The Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show

World War II Weekend at Graeme Park

We have a little catching up to do as things get busier here during the spring. Before we start in on wedding season, I wanted to do a quick re-cap (with a TON of photos) of our World War II Weekend, held May 3-4th. While Graeme Park's historical significance and interpretation centers around Colonial America and the Revolutionary War, we've been presenting a World War II Weekend for the last several years - the fact is, Graeme Park, which historically included the Penrose-Strawbridge House and caretaker's cottage, has been inhabited pretty much since the Keith House was built in 1722, and Welsh Strawbridge, who owned the property from 1920 through his death in 1969, was required to register for the draft (at age 63 no less!).

We are also neighbors to the Willow Grove Naval Air Station, which was a small airfield started in 1926 by Harold Pitcairn and purchased by the Federal government after the start of WWII under the threat of eminent domain. It was fear that the government would exercise the same rights here at Graeme Park when they wanted to expand the base, that lead the Strawbridges to donate the 42-acre parcel containing the Keith House to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania in 1968.

So now that we've covered a little bit of "why" we have a WWII Weekend, the real fun lies in the "who" and the "what". 

First and foremost, we should start with a shout-out to our wonderful sponsors. Without them this would be a much less successful event for us as their support covered the cost of most of the entertainment and allowed us to keep admission prices reasonable. 

World War II Weekend Sponsor

PECO (www.peco.com)

Musical Entertainment Sponsor

Black Horse Auto Body Shop (www.blackhorseautobody.com)

Iwo Jima Sponsor

Babylon Business Campus (www.babyloncampus.com)

Normandy Beach Sponsors

Classic Pistol (www.classicpistol.com)

County Line Fence (www.countylinefence.com)

Battle of Midway Sponsors

Hanson Mechanical Restorations (www.hansonmechanical.com)

Susquehanna Bank (www.susquehanna.net)

Other Supporters

Days Inn, Horsham

McDonalds, Hatboro/Horsham

Giant Food Stores

Acme Markets

Open Aire Affairs / Newtown Party Rental

Our next round of appreciation goes to the volunteers who served on the organizing committee, figuring out the logistics of the battle, contracting the reenactors, soliciting the sponsors and advertisers, and thinking of every detail to make the weekend run smoothly; 

the volunteers who showed up with a can-do attitude the day of the event to pitch in and do what they were assigned - whether they were selling hot dog tickets, parking cars, giving tours of the Keith House, or greeting visitors, they did so with a smile; 

the World War II veterans who made themselves available to speak with visitors about their experiences and with whom it was an honor and a privilege to spend the weekend; 

and lastly, the various reenactors and reenactment units who staged the battle, and set up wonderful displays of period collections, tents and vehicles, dressed in period uniforms, suits and dresses, and participated in the swing dance lessons, their attention to detail gave everything an authentic feel. 

In addition to a battle reenactment both days (the Germans won on Saturday, the Americans on Sunday), 

we had performances by the Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show throughout the weekend; 

a big band concert on Saturday and some patriotic music on Sunday; swing dance lessons; 

weapons demonstrations; tours of the historic Keith House; displays of period cars,

an honoring of veterans (those present and those passed on, represented by luminaries) by Representatives Tom Murt and Todd Stephens, and vendors selling military items.

 

We're planning to do it all over again next year, so make sure to mark your calendars for May 2-3, 2015. There truly is something for everyone.

2014 WWII Weekend at Graeme Park

Even though spring seems far away and it feels like we may never see the grass again, our committee has been hard at work planning the 2014 WWII Weekend at Graeme Park, which will take place on Saturday, May 3 and Sunday, May 4. Once again, we have a ton of great entertainment, interesting period displays, and of course the battle reenactment in store for you.

Reenactors representing troops from America, Germany, Great Britain and Poland are all on board again this year so you can see the differences in camp set-ups, equipment, vehicles, and battle tactics. WWII veterans will be on hand so we can honor them during a special ceremony and many have stories, books, photos, and displays to share. We're also adding the Ultimate Abbott and Costello Tribute Show this year and bringing back the Society Music Makers for a swing band concert. Please review the schedule for an action packed weekend and plan to spend the day (or the whole weekend) with us.

Saturday, May 3
Vendors & Displays - 10:00 - 4:00
Flag Raising & National Anthem - 10:30
Tours of Keith House & Kitchen: every 30 minutes between 11:00 and 2:00
Weapons Demonstration - 11:30
Abbott & Costello Show - 12:15, 2:00, 4:45
Swing Dance Demo & Lesson - 1:15
Battle Reenactment - 3:00
Honoring of Veterans - 4:15
Swing Concert & Dance with the Society Music Makers - 5:30

Sunday, May 4
Vendors & Displays - 10:00 - 3:00
Flag Raising & National Anthem - 10:30
Tours of Keith House & Kitchen: 11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 2:00, 2:30
Weapons Demonstration - 11:00
Live Patriotic Music - 11:45
Abbott & Costello Show - 12:30, 4:15
Battle Reenactment - 1:30
Honoring of Veterans - 2:45
Swing Dance Demo & Lesson - 3:30