It\u2019s School Day at \u2018The Great War\u2019 on April 5

It’s School Day at ‘The Great War’ on April 5 On the weekend of April 6 and 7, Midway Village Museum will host the 7 th annual The Great War event, the largest public World War I military reenactment in the nation. And on Friday, April 5, from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., students are invited to get a sneak peek as the event opens just for them during “The Great War: WWI School Day.”

“The School Day offers a way more immersive experience for students, since they have an opportunity to interact with the 220 re-enactors while far fewer people are on the grounds,” says Alyssa Mc- Ghyghy, museum special events coordinator. “The re-enactors love teaching what they know about the war.”

There are activities for students age third grade through high school. Students can visit camps, try out the training course, tour the WWI trench system, watch a presentation about WW I aviation and meet Salvation Army Donut Lassies.

To learn more about the School Day event, call McGhghy at (815) 397-9112 ext. 104 or email her at specialevents@ midwayvillage.com. Teachers should sign up their classes by March 28.

The April 6 and 7 The Great War event will feature re-enactors portraying soldiers and civilians from the U.S. and Europe, using the museum’s historic village as a backdrop. Attractions include:

• WWI tanks, including a replica of the FT-17 French tank

• Large scale WWI model airplane displays and flying demonstrations

• An exclusive replica of a Trench Train, known as a Tin Turtle

• Elaborate displays of WWI weapons, equipment, and artifacts

• Cavalry units

• Lectures throughout the day by military experts

• Salvation Army Donut Lassies

• Live musical performers with songs from the 1910s

• Militaria sales vendors with real and replicated WWI equipment, clothing, books and artifacts

• Refreshments sold by local vendors

The following are among guest speakers:

Cindy Herman – Suffragettes and WWI Noon, April 6 & 7 Cindy Herman will explore the role that Illinois suffragettes played in establishing the women’s right to vote. She’ll also look at the fashion and accessories used by suffragettes.

Terry Dyer – Camp Grant 12:30 p.m., April 6 & 7 When the U.S. entered WWI, the City of Rockford was chosen to receive one of 16 new Army Training Centers being built across the country. Hear how pristine farmland was transformed into this massive army facility just 5 miles south of Rockford. Dyer will explain how the camp forever changed the demographics of Rockford and Northern Illinois.

Bruce Olson – Flu Pandemic of 1918 and Its Effect on the Great War 1 p.m., April 6 & 7 Speaker Bruce Olson will speak about the deadly influenza pandemic of 1918-1919, known as the “Spanish Flu.” He has personal ties to The Great War, as his paternal grandfather, Fed C. Olson, Sr., was funeral director and Winnebago County Coroner at the time and was directly involved in the care of hundreds of deceased soldiers at Camp Grant. His paternal grandmother, Ada Olson, died of the flu in the fall of 1918, and his maternal grandfather, Clyde P. Stollar, was trained as a medic at Camp Grant.

David Wiedenkeller – A Russian Cossack Life 1:30 p.m., April 6 & 7 Hear the fascinating tales of an obscure people living in and around Russia. The history of the Cossacks is shrouded in legends, misconceptions and mystery. Listen as Sergey Krasnov tells of the struggles that the Kuban host of Cossacks led during the Russian Revolution. He’ll also play authentic Russian folk music on his instrument, the balalaika!

Robert Laplander – Doughboy MIA 2:30 p.m., April 6 & 7 During WWI, America initiated the policy of ‘no man left behind’ and went to great lengths to ensure that it was followed. Yet, of the 116,000 American deaths by the end of the war, some 4,423 military members remained unaccounted for – missing in action. They still are. The organization Doughboy MIA is determined to make as full accounting as possible of these men. Hear their story.

Admission to the The Great War is $12 for adults, $6 for children ages 3-17, and free to members of Midway Village Museum. It doesn’t include the silent film event on Saturday evening.

For assistance with mobility, call the museum ahead of the event.

Learn more at midwayvillage.com, or by calling (815) 397-9112. ❚