The 70th anniversary of the end of World War II will be celebrated in April at the 12th annual “WWII Heritage Days” in Peachtree City.
The history festival is hosted by the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Dixie Wing and is held at the group’s Historical Airpower Facility, Atlanta Regional Airport-Falcon Field in Peachtree City.
The festival is set for April 18 and 19 and will be open from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. on both days.
The weekend will feature historic aircraft, antique cars, vintage military vehicles, education displays, demonstrations by re-enactors portraying Allied and Axis troops, and activities for children.
A highlight planned for the weekend is a panel discussion series featuring WWII veterans.
Since its beginning as a small, one-day program in 2003, WWII Heritage Days has evolved into the largest annual World War II-themed event in Georgia.
On the evening of April 18, the festival will bring back the “Big Band” sound at “Keep ‘em Flying,” a 1940s theme hangar dance featuring The Peachtree Jazz Edition. The dance is a fundraiser with proceeds helping cover the cost of WWII Heritage Days, aircraft preservation and “Education through Living History,” the group’s free WWII history program for schools and youth groups.
“WWII Heritage Days is a living history classroom,” said Jim Buckley, CAF Dixie Wing leader. “More than 200 volunteers from 25 organizations join us in creating the weekend. We turn our flying museum into a classroom to preserve and teach the story of The Greatest Generation, the men and women who won the Second World War.”
During the war, more than 16 million men and women served in the United States Armed Forces, however, fewer than 1 million U.S. WWII veterans survive today
WWII involved 30 countries and 100 million people from 1939 to 1945. It is estimated that 50 million to 85 million people lost their lives before Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan were defeated in 1945.
The suggested donation for WWII Heritage Days is $5. WWII veterans, active duty military in uniform and children 5 and under are admitted free.
Tickets for “Keep ‘em Flying” are $55 before April 18, $60 at the door. Reserved tables and group discounts are available. For more information, visit www.wwiidays.org or call 678-364-1110.
The Commemorative Air Force is a national education non-profit organization dedicated to flying and restoring World War II aircraft as a tribute to America’s veterans. Based in Texas, the organization has more than 12,000 members and operates a fleet of 164 WWII aircraft. Visit www.commemorativeairforce.org/ for more information.
