World War I and II Commemoration Day
closing by 3:00 p.m. due to excessive heat
July 20, 2019 is the scheduled date for the World War I and II Commemoration Day on Town Hill. The day-long event which kicks off at 9:30 a.m. is to honor and support veterans' programs, scholarships and historic preservation and will feature a ceremony to include a WWII-era plane flyover and a flag raising complete with color guard and ceremonial band.
Educational sessions and discussions will take place and there will be vendors on site as well as special exhibits.
Enjoy speeches from VIP speakers, watch as reenactors display period uniforms and dance the night away at a USO-themed Gala including dinner and dancing (even swing dance lessons!) at the Riverboat with music by the Fredericksburg Big Band from 6:30 - 11:00 pm. Tickets for the Gala are on sale now.
More information can be found at the Virginia Commemoration Commission site.
World War I and II Commemoration Day Schedule
9:30 – 10:00 a.m.: Opening Ceremony and flag raising with Color Guard from AEGIS Training and Readiness Center. Guest speakers, including Senator Richard H. Stuart, United States Marine and the only enlisted member in the Virginia Senate
10:15 – 11:45 a.m.: Educational sessions and a discussion forum with regional historians, including those from Dahlgren Heritage Foundation speaking about impact of Naval Proving Grounds in Dahlgren during WWII. Location: American Legion Post 148 (27 Colonial Ave.).
12:00 pm: WWI & WWII Exhibit Opening Ceremony with US Congressman Rob Wittman, House Armed Services Committee member since 2007. He currently serves on the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee. A flyover by WWII planes from The Flying Circus Air Show will take place.
12:15 – 4:30 p.m.: Exhibits, military memorabilia, Veterans Service Organizations and nonprofit organizations
- Silent Drill Platoon, Marine Barracks, Washington, DC
- National Museum of the Marine Corps
- WWII-era Piper L4 Grasshopper light observation aircraft
- Bestselling author John Gilstrap
- WWI uniform and handkerchiefs from Museum at Colonial Beach
- Dahlgren Heritage Museum
- Semper K9 Service Dog for Veterans
- Coast Guard Auxiliary
- Book signing The Dark and Lonely Road by Sean Gates
- Blanket Hearts, a charitable blanket ministry providing no-sew blankets to people in need
- Northern Neck Coins & Antiques
- Clear Captions call captioning products and services for the hard-of-hearing community
- Craft beer tasting with Colonial Beach Brewing
- Wine from Monroe Bay Vineyard
- Food from Chief Petty Officers Association
6:30 – 11:00 p.m.: 1940s style, WWII-era Dinner Dance Gala. This fundraiser will help support veterans assistance programs. Riverboat on the Potomac will be decked out USO-style and includes:
- Meet and greet with 95 year-old World War II Navy veteran Junior Morris, who served on the destroyer, USS Braine
- Cheek-to-cheek dancing to a live orchestra featuring the 1940s sounds of Fredericksburg Big Band
- Sit-down dinner (choose one of four entrees at time of ticket purchase). Cash bar.
- Swing dance lessons and performances by DanceFXBG
- Guests are encouraged to wear military uniforms or authentic vintage, period-style, or party dress.
The event will benefit the Dahlgren Heritage Museum, the Military Officers Association of America and the American Legion.
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