12th Annual El Dorado Veteran's Day Parade
This was the first event that the World War II History Center's new reenacting units had a chance to participate. Several of the GI's were members of other units that came to town to help out with the parade and the public battle later in the day. The banner carriers are Randy and Elaine Hammons, World War II History Center Foundation Board members dressed in 1940's era civilian clothing. The GI's are escorting a number of German POW's through the parade.
The World War II History Center reenactors have been training since March for events like this which allow us to give the crowd a better "show". Since we all knew each other, the GI's were able to "rough up" the German POW's which the crowd seemed to get a kick out of.
Two of the German POW's even sported bandaged "wounds" for the parade.
Here is one of the paratroopers that led the column, a hometown boy, Mike Watkins. Mike changed uniforms following the parade and served as a German for the public battle later in the day.