A reminder of some upcoming events in the region...

D-Day Commemoration at Forbes Field June 2

World War II will come to life in Topeka on June 1 and 2 during the 7th Annual Heartland Military Day at the Kansas National Guard Museum, at the main entrance of Forbes Field. “German” and “Allied” troops will show what life was like during World War II through dramatic reenactments and encampments. All events are free and open to the public. The event will commemorate the D-Day invasion and the men and women who paid the ultimate price for our freedom.

Preparation for Heartland Military Days begins Friday evening, June 1, with camps being constructed and participants wearing WWII uniforms. All re-enactors are invited to participate. A locally owned WWII Sherman Tank and Tank Retriever will be on display along with tank crew veterans of the Normandy Invasion, who will reminisce about their time inside a Sherman Tank and their personal insight into the battle. Vehicle owners, re-enactors, gun and uniform collectors should contact Gary Nicholson at 785-242-7839 to enter their display.

Beginning at 8 a.m. Saturday, June 2, re-enactors will be living the life of World War II troops in the encampments on the museum grounds. There will also be an extensive display of World War II and Korean War era vehicles and equipment, which have been meticulously restored by their owners. Mock battles will be staged at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on the museum grounds featuring German and American soldiers. Between battles, visitors may view the equipment and visit with the individuals who do the restoration work and study the history of the war. In addition, there will be a Civil War display, World War I display, World War II display and a uniform display spanning from the Mexican War to present.

The museum features Kansas National Guard history displays and weapons. Other displays inside the museum focus on Kansas Army and Air National Guard participation in conflicts including the Civil War, WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo. Weapons are also on display for those engagements, which have been assigned to the museum from the Anniston Army Depot in Alabama . Outside displays include 1/4 ton Jeep, 2 1/2 ton and 5 ton trucks, M-60 Main Battle Tank, M-109A5 155mm Self Propelled Howitzer, M-110A2 8 Self Propelled Howitzer, M-113 Personnel Carrier, M-42A1 Duster Twin 40 mm Anti-Aircraft gun, UH-1 Huey helicopter, OH-6 Cayuse, AH-1 Cobra helicopter, OH-58 Kiowa helicopter, CH-54 Skycrane helicopter and a recently restored F-4D Phantom II jet fighter.

Museum board members and volunteers will operate a food stand Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Kansas National Guard Museum is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and is always free and open to the public.

For more information, contact Jack Elliott at the Kansas National Guard Museum (785) 862-1020.

If you're out in central-west central Kansas looking for something to do but don't want to head to Topeka - Fort Riley is offering up a concert from the Big Red One band.

DIVISION BAND TO PERFORM FREE CONCERT JUNE 2 IN MANHATTAN

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SCHEDULE INTERVIEWS, CONTACT April Blackmon, Community Relations Officer (785) 239-2022

May 31, 2007

The 1st Infantry Division Band will perform June 2 at Manhattan's City Park. The concert, which begins at 8 p.m., is part of the Manhattan Arts in the Park Concert Series. It is free and open to the public.

The event will feature the concert band, the premier ensemble of the 1st Infantry Division Band. Musical selections come from all genres of music from classical to popular.

Featured soloists include vocalist Staff Sgt. Renatta Draper. The band will also perform traditional concert selections and marches.

The 1st Infantry Division Rock Band is scheduled to perform at 8 p.m. June 29 in Manhattan's City Park. The performance also is part of the Manhattan Arts in the Park Concert Series. It is free and open to the public.

About the 1st Infantry Division Band: The 1st Inf. Div. Band was constituted Oct. 12, 1943 in the Regular Army, 1st Infantry Division. The band has promoted Esprit de Corps to American Soldiers around the world while serving in WWII, Vietnam and Desert Shield/Storm, Bosnia, Kosovo and Operation Iraqi Freedom II.

While the band has spent most of its time in Kansas, the unit departed with the 1st Inf. Div. in the 1990s and spent 10 years in Germany promoting German/American community relations and serving the troops overseas.

The band returned to Fort Riley in 2006 with the 1st Inf. Div. headquarters.

Go to Manhattan and give a listen to combat-experienced musicians.