WWII ENCAMPMENT WEEKEND
Saturday June 19th & Sunday, June 20th
1303 Round Swamp Road, Old Bethpage Village Restoration L.I.E. Exit 48
(Rain or Shine)
The “Big Three”
At WWII Encampment Weekend
The Museum of American Armor is reinventing the historic Yalta Conference convened in the closing days of World War II when the Allies would dictate the shape of Europe for the following half century.
Beside an operational array of Allied and enemy armor, interpreters who portray President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, Britain’s Winston Churchill, and Soviet Russia’s Stalin will greet Armor Museum visitors at Old Bethpage Village Restoration Village on June 19th and 20th and remind them of the extraordinary alliance that confronted and defeated Nazi Germany.
Confronting “Screen Time”
Armor Museum trustee, former U.S. Congressman Peter King, explained, “Living history has become an essential part of keeping our nation’s heritage alive and relevant at a time when online platforms have created a virtual alternative universe for too many of our young people. To see these vehicles operate in the field opens a journey of study and education for many of our visitors.”
Members of the Long Island Living History Association will also present uniforms, tactics, and weapons of that era.
Armor Museum president and founder Lawrence Kadish, observed, "Simply put, history is barely being taught in our classrooms. There is not a single social studies teacher who won’t tell you how the curriculum time has been diminished. We are confronting that. Our continuing mission at the Armor Museum is to bring history to life so that a new generation of Americans understand that the precious gift of freedom was bought and paid for by the sacrifice of those who came before us.”
The Role of Living Historians
The Armor Museum's Senior Trustee, Michael Sapraicone, noted, "The traditional role of living historians over the years is presenting Civil War and World War I periods to audiences. But the sad reality is we are continuing to lose our World War II veterans and their stories and legacy need to be keep alive. Living historians are able to accomplish that goal and these specific interpreters can bring the Allied leadership to life.”
The “Big Three” will be presented within the larger context of World War II Weekend at the Armor Museum where tactical displays and a tank parade will cap off the various events. Families will be admitted only with pre-reservation e-tickets purchased on a first come – first served basis. Admission fees will be posted and available by going clicking "Buy Tickets Here" above.
Families can bring lawn chairs to designated areas, masked, and separated from other visitors as directed by park safety personnel.
BETA