Military Museum to Reenact WWII Battle
By Gary S. Hatrick
Imaginary bullets will fly , but real tanks will roar as the The Zephyrhills Museum of Military History holds reenactments of a World War II battle during the Zephyrhills Battle for Veterans event being held from Nov. 7 to 9.
The three day event is Florida’s largest Veterans Day Experience according to Zephyrhills Museum of Military History President Cliff Moffett. “I would say at least in Florida,” Moffett said “but I would say the whole East Coast really. I don't know anybody else that's doing an event like ours. Oh, it's gonna be phenomenal. People come from all over the world to this event. we've had people from England, Europe, Australia, fly in for this show.”
All three days will feature a military vehicle displays, weapons demonstrations, food and military vendors, aircraft on display, and of course the museum will be open for viewing its various artifacts. Friday will be primarily static displays and opportunities to talk to veterans who have arrived at the event.
Saturday will launch the weekend with a Veterans Parade through downtown Zephyrhills. Some of the vehicles and military equipment that have been brought in for the event will participate in the parade.
The usual museum military aircraft on display. “We have a C 53B, which is a World War II aircraft, similar to the C 47,” Moffett said. “We have an OV1B Mohawk, which is a Vietnam era. We have a CH58 helicopter, which is also Vietnam era. Then we have also a British trainer plane jet plane, which did see a little bit of time in Afghanistan. It's a trainer plane, but it also can be used for low level bombing, and that's what they use it for in Afghanistan was as a low level bomber.” There should also be other aircraft joining in for the weekend. “I know there are some World War II aircraft gonna be flying in,” Moffett continued. “We're trying to set it up so we can do a flyover during the battle with some World War II aircraft.”
The battle Moffatt riders to are the main events on both Saturday and Sunday when there will be a WWII battle reenactment at 2 p.m. with tanks running as part of the battle scenario.
In addition on Saturday and Sunday, Moffett said, they would try to have some kind of demonstration like a small arms demo or a talk from a Civil War cannon crew who will be present. The Commemorative Air Force of Lakeland will bring in aircraft in which one can take a ride for a fee.
If you are in the market for military memorabilia, there will be military vendors present from whom one can buy things ranging from $5 on up, Moffett said. “f you wanna come and get some military memorabilia. This is the place to go and see it,” he added.
While there will be people dressed in period costumes - confederate soldiers, union soldiers, German soldiers, etc. Moffett and the museum staff ask that no one come in costumes representing current conflicts because it can be divisive and disruptive. Those who do may be asked to leave the event.
The entire weekend will be a tribute to the veterans of the various wars, starting with the Civil War, but primarily WWI since the museum is housed in vintage WWII medical building used to train soldiers of the 10th Fighter squadron at the Zephyrhills Army Airfield which is now the Zephyrhills airport. The building was a infirmary located at Kruse Field just a small distance from its present location. It was moved to to present location in 1997.
Moffatt has been president of the museum for 15 years. He is an enthusiast for the museum and for history, “In addition to the World Wars, we have Civil War stuff, we have Korean War, Vietnam, right up to present day,” he explained. “We'd like to have have people come out and see and feel and touch history. One of the things that’s good about this museum is the artifacts come from collectors. Collectors want things that are different. Collectors want the unusual stuff. We don't have a big museum, but we've got items that you do not see in any museum. I've got people coming here that go to a large museums and say ‘I've never seen this stuff before,’ because it comes from collectors. Yeah. We have a very unique museum.”
Moffatt and all the staff are volunteers. If anyone wishes to volunteer or if they have an unusual item they would like to donate, they should contact the museum.
The Zephyrhills Battle for Veterans event will be held at the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History Nov. 7, 8 and 9 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is free to the public, but they do accept donations if one wishes to do so. The museum is located at 5200 Airport Rd., Zephyrhills, FL 33542. To learn more about the museum or to see updates about the Zephyrhills Battle for Veterans visit zmmh.org
