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BERWICK — The second annual World War II Weekend at Riverfront Test Track Park brought out over 100 military re-enactors to give attendees a glimpse back into history and to honor those who served their country both at home and on foreign soil during the war.
The centerpiece of the event was a Stuart Tank named “Lady Lois,” built in December 1942 at the borough’s American Car & Foundry Company.
To Tom McLaughlin, secretary of the Stuart Tank Memorial Association Committee, bringing the tank “home” last year was a labor of love and an opportunity to honor those who built it and those who manned it in combat.
“We wanted to bring back one of the original tanks built here,” he said. “We put out the word ‘Bring Stuie Home to Berwick’ and we were successful. The Internet was a huge help.”
The factory, McLaughlin said, employed 9,135 employees from 177 municipalities in Northeastern Pennsylvania who built a total of 15,224 tanks.
“The railroad system provided a way for workers to get here,” he said, pointing to a 1940s map detailing a railway route into Berwick from various areas.
Over 100 men who first worked in the factory went on to also maintain the tanks as enlisted men, he said.
As Maryann Brown, of Drums, made her way though the event on Saturday afternoon, she said, “I never knew there was anything like this.”
Brown was especially interested in the medical tent, as volunteers detailed how most soldiers, when injured, simply wanted to be patched up well enough to rejoin the battle.
“I think that those in the military are still like that today,” she said. “They have a lot of courage and commitment to fighting beside their brothers.”
Michelle Sima, also from Drums, home-schools her children, and said the event provided opportunity for both fun and education.
Daughter Caylie Sima, 10, said she would rather learn by participating in an outdoor event than by reading a textbook.
Garth Petersen, of Reading, a 30th Infantry military police re-enactor, sheltered under an historically accurate WWII tent, complete with guns and other necessities of war, shared historical information with attendees, young and old.
“Military police were the ones everyone hates,” he said, explaining that it was the job of military police to enforce rules.
Even military police re-enactors at the event were charged with patrolling the parking area and doing crowd control.
Petersen and the other re-enactors, who were to be at the event for three days, slept in nearby tents, enjoying the camaraderie of it all.
“We don’t just see each other at these type of events,” he said. “Birthdays, anniversaries, any type of celebration, we’re like family.”
Fellow re-enactor Dusty Reichart, also from Reading, said, “We enjoy being together. Garth and I used serve as firefighters beside each other.”
Re-enactors Mary Kate Whelan and Jenna Charry were sharing a different part of history with attendees.
“We like to familiarize people with what it was like to be women on the homefront,” said Charry, 26, who has been participating in such events since grade school.
Charry detailed how women made their own clothes, donated used nylons for use by the military and raised children with scant resources.
Whelan demonstrated how women who didn’t have nylons would draw a line on the back of their legs to give the illusion that they were wearing hose.
“It was scandalous to not wear nylons,” she said. “So, women did whatever was necessary.”
Both women credited the hard work of military personnel and their families back home.
“There’s a reason they were called the greatest generation,” said Charry.
Event coordinator Kristin Bogash, said his zeal for history continues to grow, as does the response to historical events.
“There were about 187 re-enactors here today,” she said. “That’s 100 more than last year.”
McLaughlin is looking forward to further growth of the association, which has found a home on Vine Street.
If all goes as planned, the association will receive an additional Stuart Tank from the National Museum of the Marine Corps.
“They told us when we had a climate-controlled area, they would permanently loan us another Stuart tank,” he said. “We can’t wait.”
