2013 NOTE: This calendar is evolving. Please check frequently
RICHARD KOONTZ MEMORIAL LECTURE SERIES: Beginning in February the lectures will be the 1st Wednesday of the Month (Except NOV & DEC) Sponsored by The Friends of the Pennsylvania Military Museum. Scroll to the bottom of the page for links to other Area Events.
January 12 – DOCUMENTARY FILM: “You Enter Germany – Bloody Huertgen and the Siegfried Line” Between September 1944 and February 1945 thirteen U.S. Army divisions fought for control of a 50 square mile area of dense forest along the German border. This battle was the longest single battle in American history and largest defeat of the U.S. Army in Europe . This 2007 German production tells that story with veteran’s interviews and never before seen archival footage. (104 minutes). Donation Requested $$- 2:00 p.m. *Annual
February 06 – Friends' Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture: "A Wicked War: Polk, Clay, Lincoln and the 1846 U.S. Invasion of Mexico"
Speaker: Amy Greenberg, Penn State Liberal Arts Research Professor of History and Women's Studies. 7:30 p.m.
March 06 – Friends' Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture: "Civil War Patriotic Envelopes as Weapons of War"
Speaker: Ken Lawrence, philatelic writer and researcher, antebellum and Civil War historian and stamp collector. 7:30 p.m.
March 09 - Military Movie Madness Festival Museum reopens to the public on Saturday March 09 with the screening of three movies beginning at 10:00 a.m. and running to 4:00 p.m. A donation is requested for viewing the movies. Regualr rates apply for museum gallery admission. All films have an R rating.
- 10:00 - "When Trumpets Fade" Futile attacks against hopeless objectives tell the story of 28th Division in this WWII battle. R rating c.1998
- 12:00 - "Taegukgi" (The Brotherhood of War) Two brothers are forced to enlist in the Korean army at the outbreak of the war with the North. R rating c.2004
- 2:30 - "Go Tell the Spartans" Burt Lancaster stars as career U.S. Army adviser during the early part of the Vietnam War. R rating c.1978
March 10 - CHARTER DAY - On Sunday, Charter Day, there will be FREE ADMISSION beginning at NOON to commemorate the granting of the Charter from Charles II to William Penn which founded “Penn’s Woods” in 1681. *Annual NOTE: Museum hours are Wednesday thru Saturday 10am to 4pm, Sunday Noon to 4pm; Closed Mondays and Tuesdays. Open on all summer holidays.
April 03 – Friends' Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture: "What Really Happened? The My Lai Massacre and Doing History"
My Lai remains one of the more disturbing events of the Vietnam War. Questions posed in this discussion: What actually happened and why? How do historians reconstruct such events? What challenges are faced when memories change, witnesses lie and propaganda mixes fact with fiction for political purposes? And finally. . . why does it still matter? Speaker: William Allison, Army War College Staff. 7:30 p.m.
National, Commonwealth and division flags are carried in ranks by members of the 28th Infantry Division in preparation for the annual Celebration of Service event.
April 13 & 14 - BATTERY B DRILL WEEKEND - The Civil War Era re-enactment group of the 3rd Pennsylvania Volunteers will encamp on the museum grounds demonstrating the loading and firing of replica period artillery pieces while they conduct their yearly safety qualifying session and recruitment drive. Interested persons of all ages are invited to enlist. Noon till 4pm *Annual
Members of the 3rd Pennsylvania Volunteers, Battery B, demonstrate the loading and firing of their guns during the annual recruitment drive and Spring training session held each April.
April 20 - KIDS DAY: Dress Up and Discover!! - Kids of all ages get to try on the field gear and head gear from the museum education collection. Have your parents bring their cameras, cell phones and IPods as you pose at one of three backdrops in the museum theatre. Visit the education stations in the galleries for more fun discoveries throughout the day. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
May 01 - Friends' Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture: "The War of 1812, A Naval Perspective, Part 2"
Speaker - James Bloom, Captain, USN (Ret.) 7:30 p.m.
May 19 - A CELEBRATION OF SERVICE: HONORING PENNSYLVANIA VETERANS - U.S. Army reunion and memorial service sponsored by the Pennsylvania National Guard commemorating the Pennsylvanian Citizen Soldier. Activities include a military band concert, distinguished speaker, helicopter/vehicle displays and a twenty-one-gun, 105mm howitzer battery salute. Call ahead for itinerary. Hours – 12:30pm to 3pm. This is an AW (All Weather) event - Rain or Shine. *Annual
On the third Sunday in May 2012, the PA National Guard returned to their memorial shrine to honor their dead.
May 25 & 26 - "WORLD WAR II REVISITED" - Axis and Allied WWII reenactors bivouac on the grounds of the Pennsylvania Military Museum portraying field life in the European Theater of Operations, 1944-45. A small squad tactical demonstration against German opposition is scheduled for 1pm each day. Bivouac and tactical open to the public 10am till 4pm. This is an AW (All Weather) event - Rain or Shine. *Annual
May 25 - "LETTERS FROM HOME The Andrew Sisters Tribute Show" will entertain the troops at the annual WWII Combat Bivouac on the museum grounds. Heidi, Erin and Serah of First Flight Entertainment blend the 3-part harmonies of the original sisters act into a brilliantly choreographed show with the dance and comedy reminiscent of the era. Admission to the show is free.
The Andrews Sisters Tribute Show" from First-in-Flight Entertainment wowed the GI's and home front crowds at the 2012 Memorial Day Weekend living history event.
JUNE All Month - Guided Tour Weekends - Received a personal guided tour for the regular admission price on Saturdays and Sundays. 1:00 p.m.
Saturdays in JUNE - "Gone West: A History Tour of the 28th Infantry Division Shrine" - Museum staff will present a history of the site that discusses the evolution of the site from a private military training grounds, active duty cavalry post and officers club to national shrine. Then and now photographs of the site and a rare archival movie of a 1927 officers reunion are included. Donation requested. 2:30 p.m. (No tour on 22nd)
June 05 – Friends' Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture: "History of the Service Flag of the U.S. since 1942 and the Meaning of the Blue and Gold Star Mothers" Speaker: Jessica Charles. 7:30 p.m.
June 14 - FLAG DAY CELEBRATION - The State College Elks Lodge and local veterans organizations will sponsor a joint Flag Day Service and U.S. Flag Retirement Ceremony on the grounds of the 28th Division Shrine. The public is encouraged to bring their unserviceable American Flags for the proper disposal. Free Admission 6:00 p.m. *Annual
June 22 - BUZZ CUT SATURDAY - Commemorate the beginning of summer with a traditional boot camp haircut. Donations accepted. 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
June 30 - EXPLORING the ARMOR - Armored vehicle hobbyist Michael Siggins and museum educator Joe Horvath will lead a group of select individuals on a private history tour of the outside tracked vehicles including a look inside the crew compartments. The tour will begin at 2:00 p.m. in the theater with a short power point presentation and then proceed onto the grounds. Seating on this tour is limited to #20. Friends Members $5; All others $15. RESERVATIONS REQUIRED! Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by June 23.
July 04 - OPEN FOR BUSINESS
July 11 to 14- PEOPLE’S CHOICE FESTIVAL OF PENNSYLVANIA ARTS - Annual arts and crafts festival featuring the best of Central Pennsylvania’s artisans. Food, fun and family entertainment in a park like setting. Fee for parking. Visit www.peopleschoicefestival.com for more information. Parking $$ *Annual
July 20 & 21 - "VIETNAM Revisited" - Living Historians portraying American combat and support troops in Vietnam will interpret the late 1960's "in country” in Southeast Asia on the grounds of the Pennsylvania Military Museum. Daily programs include the opportunity to accompanying squads on short range patrols and a tactical patrol ambush demonstrations at 2pm each day. NOTE: Sandals and shorts are not recommended for those wishing to accompany patrols. Bivouac open 10am to 4pm on Saturday and Sunday. This is an AW (All Weather) event - Rain or Shine. Click here for more information *Annual
AUGUST All Month - Guided Tour Weekends - Received a personal guided tour for the regular admission price on Saturdays and Sundays. 1:00 p.m.
Graduates of the AUG 2012 Boot Camp for Kids proudly pose for a group photo after a very tiring day in the field. Visit the Pennsylvania Military Museum Real fb pages for more photos.
September 02 - Labor Day Open for Business 10 am to 4 pm.
October 02 - Friends' Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture: "After Gettysburg: The Battle Dead and the Families They Left Behind"
Speaker: Dr, Carol Reardon 7:30 p.m.
October 05 & 06 - "Then & NOW" - Visit this Living History Time Line of Uniforms and Equipment from the Colonial Period thru the Present. 18th and 19th century fashion show begins at 1pm followed by the 20th and 21st centuries at 2pm with a historic weapons demonstration at 3pm. Encampment/Bivouac opens at 10am till 4pm each day. This is an AW (All Weather) event. Click here for more information *Annual
Hessian soldiers and Civil War era womenfolk mingle at the annual Time Line of Uniforms and Equipment.
November 06 - Friends' Richard Koontz Memorial Lecture: "Young Mr. Roosevelt" - Dr. Stanley Wientraub will discuss the career of Theodore Roosevelt as the Assistant Secretary of the Navy. 7:30 p.m.
November 09 - KIDS DAY: Dress Up and Discover!! - Kids of all ages get to try on the field gear and head gear from the museum education collection. Have your parents bring their cameras, cell phones and IPods as you pose at one of three backdrops in the museum theatre. Visit the education stations in the galleries for more fun discoveries throughout the day. 10:00 am to 3:00 pm.
November 11 - OPEN Veteran's Day 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
December 07 – Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day Tribute; Seventy-two years ago on December 7th, the US Pacific Fleet at Hawaii America Wednesday December 7, 2011 , this event will be remembered in a tribute beneath the guns of the battleship USS PENNSYLVANIA which was a witness to that attack. - 12:45 pm * Annual
Visit these Visitor Bureau links for other area attractions
Centre County - www.visitpennstate.org
Huntingdon County - www.raystown.org
Clearfield County - www.visitclearfieldcounty.org
Events