53k
10-16-2010, 08:08 PM
October 8th through 10th the town of Williamsport, Maryland held its third annual WWII Weekend. The weekend honors all military members and veterans, especially those veterans of World War II. The event this year also included a memorial ceremony observing the 10th anniversary of the bombing of the USS Cole to honor the memories of Seaman Craig B. Wibberley and Fireman Patrick H Roy, local young men who died in the attack.
The Weekend featured reenactments (including many participants in authentic WW II uniforms or civilian costume), vintage movies and entertainment and many other activities at the Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport. The Mess Hall was even featuring Spam sandwiches. See http://www.williamsportmd.gov/wwii/index.asp for much more information.
Saturday featured a parade from the Park through the downtown. Last year Parade organizer Potomac Chapter and Keystone Region Chapter member Jimmy Jewells, a Williamsport businessman, sought Potomac Chapter participation in the parade, especially those having convertibles to be used to transport WW II veterans in the parade. Merhauts and Paul Johnson were honored to provide this transportation and it proved to be both a moving and heart warming experience with Merhauts transporting our Potomac Chapter member Leonard Summers, an 8th Air Force veteran of 35 bombing runs over Germany. This year Leonard didn’t choose to participate due to the illness of his wife Lorraine. However, Pat and Larry Merhaut in their ’62 Lark convertible and Maxine and Bill Morgan in their ’47 Champion convertible each transported WW II veterans accompanied by their wives. Other Potomac Chapter members followed in their Studebakers- Anne and Bob Devore (’61 Hawk), Bob Johnstone (’64 GT Hawk), and Karen and Paul Johnson (’64 Avanti). The parade also included marching units, vintage and modern military vehicles and a group of very energetic Lindy Hop dancers who entertained through the entire parade route.
It’s truly an All American event that can make you feel proud to be an American. Please visit the Potomac Chapter website (http://www.studebaker-info.org/Photos10/psdc091010/psdc091010.html ) for many more excellent pictures courtesy of Bob Johnstone and Paul Johnson including two short video clips of the Lindy Hop dancers performing. See Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rosie the Riveter, WACs complete with seam in their stockings and much more.
The Weekend featured reenactments (including many participants in authentic WW II uniforms or civilian costume), vintage movies and entertainment and many other activities at the Byron Memorial Park in Williamsport. The Mess Hall was even featuring Spam sandwiches. See http://www.williamsportmd.gov/wwii/index.asp for much more information.
Saturday featured a parade from the Park through the downtown. Last year Parade organizer Potomac Chapter and Keystone Region Chapter member Jimmy Jewells, a Williamsport businessman, sought Potomac Chapter participation in the parade, especially those having convertibles to be used to transport WW II veterans in the parade. Merhauts and Paul Johnson were honored to provide this transportation and it proved to be both a moving and heart warming experience with Merhauts transporting our Potomac Chapter member Leonard Summers, an 8th Air Force veteran of 35 bombing runs over Germany. This year Leonard didn’t choose to participate due to the illness of his wife Lorraine. However, Pat and Larry Merhaut in their ’62 Lark convertible and Maxine and Bill Morgan in their ’47 Champion convertible each transported WW II veterans accompanied by their wives. Other Potomac Chapter members followed in their Studebakers- Anne and Bob Devore (’61 Hawk), Bob Johnstone (’64 GT Hawk), and Karen and Paul Johnson (’64 Avanti). The parade also included marching units, vintage and modern military vehicles and a group of very energetic Lindy Hop dancers who entertained through the entire parade route.
It’s truly an All American event that can make you feel proud to be an American. Please visit the Potomac Chapter website (http://www.studebaker-info.org/Photos10/psdc091010/psdc091010.html ) for many more excellent pictures courtesy of Bob Johnstone and Paul Johnson including two short video clips of the Lindy Hop dancers performing. See Franklin D. Roosevelt, Rosie the Riveter, WACs complete with seam in their stockings and much more.