Category: Uncategorized

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FDR Presidential Library & Museum WW2 Encampment, Memorial Day 2025

Posted on by Tom Filecco
FDR Memorial Day 2024

https://www.fdrlibrary.org/events-calendar

Memorial Day Weekend Event:
World War II Military Displays
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: FDR Library Great Lawn

On Saturday, May 24 and Sunday, May 25, 2025, in honor of Memorial Day Weekend, the Great Lawn in front of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum will take on the appearance of a World War II encampment with WWII Military Displays. Period military vehicles of all sizes and soldiers in battle dress will be on hand to share their love of World War II history. Free public event.

On display will be a model M4A4 Sherman tank — a World War II combat veteran — assembled by Chrysler at the Detroit Tank Arsenal in December 1942. It was part of President Roosevelt’s “lend-lease” program, crewed by and under the command of Great Britain’s armed forces during the war. Display of the tank is courtesy of the Fourth Armored Division Historical Preservation Group.

Here is my display from last year.

The next living history display at FDR is at the end of the month, on Memorial Day. I’ll be putting togetehr a display similar to what I did last year.

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Sneak Peak At Tomorrow’s Talk

Posted on by Tom Filecco

Tomorrow I’ll be giving a talk on military insignia collecting at the Duffle Bag Military Collectors Club meeting and mini-swap meet in Patterson, NY. I decided to concentrate on insignia from units stationed or affiliated with the Tri-State (NY, NJ, CT) area. Here’s a couple of sneak peaks for tomorrow.

The event runs 10AM to 1PM tomorrow. My talk will probably start around 11 or so.

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Duffle Bag Military Collectors’ Club Meeting and Show, August 18, Patterson, NY

Posted on by Tom Filecco
Vietnam War era US Army Shoulder Sleeve Insignia of units that served in country.

This Sunday the Duffle Bag Military Collectors Club will be having its monthly meeting and mini show at the Patterson Recreation Center, Patterson, NY. Hours are 10AM to 1PM. I’ll be giving a talk on military insignia collecting.

Save the date! The Duffle Bag Military Collectors Club is inviting the public to attend our meeting! Members will have tables set up with all types of militaria to sell. Don’t miss this opportunity to add that special piece to your collection. Public admission is $5. Club members are free, bring your badge. Join the club on the spot and enjoy the perks of membership!

Sunday August 18,2024 10AM-1PM

Patterson Recreation Center
65 Front Street Patterson NY
entrance at the left side of the building.

https://www.facebook.com/thedufflebag

Posted in living history, military history, New York, Uncategorized, us army, World War II

Memorial Day, 2024

Posted on by Tom Filecco

https://www.fdrlibrary.org/events-calendar

Memorial Day Weekend Event:
World War II Military Displays
Time: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: FDR Library Great Lawn

On Saturday, May 25 and Sunday, May 26, 2024, in honor of Memorial Day Weekend, the Great Lawn in front of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum will take on the appearance of a World War II encampment with WWII Military Displays.

Period military vehicles of all sizes and soldiers in battle dress will be on hand to share their love of World War II history. Free public event.

The Duffle Bag and Associates, along with the American Veterans Historical Museum and a host of other living historians, are doing Memorial day again at FDR, sponsored by the library. I’ll be there, weather permitting, with a small display.

Normally I do a Cold War display at FDR, despite it being predominantly a World War II themed event. There are a few of us who do a post-1945 displays there. This year however marks the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day landings in Normandy, France, and my wife and younger daughter are planning on cosplaying Rosie the Riveter (their first time going in costume for this event), so I figured it would be a good idea to have a complementary costume. I don’t think, however, that I’ll be doing an ETO impression.

Despite the amount of media play that D-Day receives, there were also other pivotal events that happened elsewhere in June, 1944. Allied forces had captured Rome in the Mediterranean Theater on June 4th. June 5th was the first B-29 bombing mission, Operation Matterhorn, in the CBI theater. June was also the beginning of Operation Forager in the Pacific Theater.

Locally speaking, many National Guard and Reserve units in this area served in the Pacific or CBI Theaters. The 77th Infantry Division (USAR), 43rd Infantry Division (CTARNG et al), 27th Infantry Division (NYARNG), 118th Observation (now Airlift) Squadron (CTANG), and 333rd (now 131st) Fighter Squadron (MAANG) all served in the Pacific or CBI Theaters. Honorable mention goes to the 98th Infantry Division (USAR) that was slated for the cancelled Operation Olympic, and served occupation duty in Japan after the war.