WWI Encampment Wisconsin 1917 Showcase
WWI Encampment Wisconsin 1917
Sunday August 10th, 2008
New event at Heritage Hill!
Join Company E of the 2nd Regiment of Wisconsin National Guards as they prepare for World War I. It is late August of 1917 and Wisconsin Guardsmen are training for war at Camp Douglas. Wisconsin troops are rated in the top ten in the nation because of their excellent training and discipline. See and be a part of Wisconsin’s contribution to the war effort during Heritage Hill’s World War I Encampment –Wisconsin 1917.
Activities will include: manual of arms, marching, bayonet drills, grenade throwing, clearing a trench and more. Visitors are invited to enlist in the company and participate in some of the interactive training. You may also visit with the reenactors as they show various life-ways of 1917 soldiers.
Plus, see the impact that the “Doughnut Girls” had on the morale of the soldiers in the thick of battle. These ladies of the Salvation Army made between 2500 to 9000 doughnuts a day along the frontline trenches during World War I. See these ladies in authentic dress as they pass out donuts.
Below are specific timed activites done during the day. Many other things will take place.
1:00pm Grenade Training Test your aiming skills as the men of Company E train you to throw grenades. Don’t worry they are not live. You aren’t a soldier yet!
1:00pm-2:00pm Doughnut Girls The Doughnut Girls were volunteers from the Salvation Army that went to the front lines to boost the morale of the soldiers. They made coffee and doughnuts and delivered them even during battle. They will be walking in our Growing Community and passing out doughnuts to visitors.
2:00pm Bayonet Drill Practice makes perfect. Soldiers will demonstrate how to use a bayonet when forced into hand-to-hand combat.
3:00pm Field Exercise Company E will practice battle tactics and field exercises to demonstrate the intense training that the National Guard went through before being sent to Europe.