While World War II memorabilia for some of us can end up in a cardboard box gathering dust on a shelf in the basement, at the Park Ridge History Center they’ve created a program that brings military artifacts out into the light to tell the story of a soldier’s experience.
Living History: Military History Exhibit, hosted by the Park Ridge Historical Society, took place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on May 16, offering a fun and educational living history experience in Prospect Park alongside regular History Center exhibits in a salute to Armed Forces Day.
This third annual, family-friendly event featured a Military encampment with uniformed European and Pacific Theater troops and equipment. Reenactors from the World War II Historical Reenactment Society — 10th Mountain, 10th Mountain Medic, 9th Infantry Division, Philippine Scouts, Land Girls and the Rockford Peaches all took part.
Park Ridge Historical Society vice president, Brian Krause, said exploration of the past is important because history always repeats itself.
“While World War II may seem like forever ago, we forget how bad wars can be when we rely on what we see on TV or social media – understanding more about the heroics and atrocities of war will help us make better decisions in the future,” Krause said.
Saturday’s event gave area residents and families a chance to relive military history and to learn from military experts who share their knowledge of World War II, according to Krause.
Park Ridge resident Mike Mackey attended Saturday with his grandsons, who he said are fascinated by World War II history.
“This is a hands-on experience, a chance to talk with military experts that can bring the impact of war down to a level that kids can understand,” Mackey said.
“This is especially important for my grandsons, whose father was a veteran in the Iraq War and members of our extended family were also in service,” Mackey added.
Sean Loughran, 9th Infantry Division reenactor from Chicago, says sharing these military artifacts becomes sort of a grown-up show and tell – a way to learn about history, each one telling the story of what soldiers experienced in the war.
“Important to give kids a taste of what our soldiers went through – as World War II vets were part of a generation that didn’t talk very much about it and kept a lot of those experiences to themselves,” Loughran said.
Admission on Saturday was free to members, $5 for students, $10 for adults, and $20 for families. The entry fee included access to the Living History event, which also provided historical information on how the war impacted families stateside, as well as admission to the Park Ridge History Center’s Wall of Honor, showcasing photos and information on local veterans who fought during World War II.
Loughran says learning more about history is part of the country’s oral tradition; it’s citizens’ responsibility to pass it on, when so much can be lost.
“The reenactment provides a safe organized environment where it’s okay to be curious and to learn about the war in bite-sized pieces,” Loughran said.
Gina Grillo is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
