WW II exhibit set
WW II exhibit set
Ernie Pyle presentation part of event
The Michigan Iron Industry Museum in Negaunee will host “Shield of Steel: Iron Ore and the Arsenal of Democracy” this weekend.
Hours are 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday and 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday.
The museum combines a World War II living-history campsite, costumed interpreters, big band music, swing dancing, dramatic performances and speakers to illustrate Michigan’s contributions to victory during World War II.
Visitors will also enjoy the big-band sounds of the Bluffs Orchestra and meet celebrated war correspondent Ernie Pyle through theatrical performances by Rick Plummer, professor of theater and director of cultural affairs at West Shore Community College. Plummer will present vignettes from his original stage production, “Live from the Front: Byline Ernie Pyle” on both days of the event.
In a Saturday presentation titled “In Their Own Words,” World War II veterans Dale Vinette of Escanaba and Walter Cook of Marquette will share their experiences of underwater demolition, salvage and rescue and campaigning with the elite 10th Mountain Division.
Vinette, a highly decorated deep-sea diver, won the Navy Cross for the heroic submarine rescue of 33 crewmen from the grounded USS Pickerel, submerged at a depth of 320 feet, 200 miles south of Japan. He returned home with 15 other medals including the Silver Star and Bronze Star, as well as Meritorious Service awards.
Cook’s 10th Mountain Division, a new light-infantry unit formed for combat in rugged mountainous conditions, was instrumental in the Allied victory in Italy. On their arrival in Naples, the troops were greeted with German propaganda leaflets that said, “Welcome 10th Division. See Italy and die.”
The “Shield of Steel” display features Army vehicles, including a 1941 Chevy 11/2-ton truck and four military vehicles dating from the 1950s to the present, shown by personnel of the 107th Engineer Battalion of the Michigan Army National Guard.
An exhibit of scale models — including planes, ships, tanks and other military vehicles of the World War II era — will be displayed by the Upper Peninsula Scale Modelers.
Scheduled activities include:
≤ Saturday — World War II living-history campsite and military vehicle display (9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., museum grounds); swing dance demonstrations (noon to 4:30 p.m., museum grounds); Upper Peninsula Scale Modelers exhibit (noon to 4:30 p.m., museum commons); panel discussion “In Their Own Words” (1:30 p.m., museum auditorium); theatrical performance, “Live from the Front: Byline Ernie Pyle” (3 p.m., auditorium).
≤ Sunday — World War II living-history campsite and military vehicle display (9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., museum grounds); “The Swinging Sounds of the Forties” performed by the Bluffs Orchestra and swing dance demonstrations (noon to 4 p.m.); “Live from the Front: Byline Ernie Pyle” (1:30 p.m., auditorium).
The recently expanded museum is open from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. daily. Admission is free, but donations are accepted. For more information, call 475-7857, or go online to www.michiganhistory.org.
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