Sgt. Alvin C. York Park will host its annual World War I living history event Saturday, a way to educate and respect those who served.
Museum Curator Lindsey Wood said the park is dedicated to preserving the memory of York and the men who fought in World War I. Wood said park staff hopes to keep history alive in the memories of park guests.
“A lot of people think about World War II when they think about big wars from the past,” Wood said. “But a lot of people kind of skip over World War I, and kind of how that impacts a lot of history going forward. So we’re happy to do it every year, especially around Veterans’ Day.”
Wood said park staff aim to spotlight all World War I veteran experiences through this event. Wood said Veterans’ Day originally was created to celebrate World War I veterans.
Wood said the event, “Like Thunder in the Hills Back Home,” will feature three stations with programming scheduled through the day. Woods said inside the barn will be the The Red Cross Aid Station, while Camp Dough Boy will be stationed behind the barn. The Fighting Front will complete the journey, creating a line between the stations
Wood said Camp Dough Boy has a kitchen area and demonstrates what life was like for soldiers away from the front lines. Woods said the Fighting Front will be a reenactment of those fighting on the front lines in World War I.
“We are here to preserve history in perpetuity, you know, there is no end date on when history stops becoming important,” Woods said. “And so we want to make sure everybody knows, from today onward, just how important World War I was.”
Wood said the staff adds new features to the event each year for the evening program. Woods said this year will be a more somber experience. Wood said staff members will set up in vignette form and allow guests time to reflect on the realities of the war.
“These are real people, these aren’t just pictures, these aren’t just stories, they were real,” Wood said. “And so that’s our current, I guess special program we have going on.”
Woods said the event gains popularity every year, with 1,000 people attending last season. Woods said the park hosts school groups on Friday, where about 1,200 students will arrive on the park grounds to see the reenactment.
