Living His Story: World War II
War Re-enactments and Living Testaments
There is a place off of Guilford Road in Rockford, Illinois,
called the Midway Village and Museum Center. The brochure I picked up notes:
"Explore the past in the 55,000 sq. ft. Museum Center. See the
Rockford Peaches Exhibit [A League of Their Own] and the 1928 Stinson-Detroiter
'Greater Rockford' Aircraft. View permanent, changing, and traveling exhibits. … Experience
life at the turn of the century as you stroll through picturesque Midway
Village featuring 26 historic structures. … See history come to life
during re-enactment's from the Old West to World War II."
This weekend's events included World War II Days, where "hundreds
of Historical Society re-enactors bring the event to life with vintage vehicles,
campsites and demonstrations."
I've never been to a re-enactment of World War II before, and despite my pacifist
nature, I wanted to take part in the experience as part of my lifelong education
and fascination with history.
We arrived just in time Saturday afternoon for the 1:00 p.m. Village Battle
on Main Street. While we took our standing position on the side of the road
with hundreds of other spectators, army-fatigued soldiers began occupying the
village readying to battle with German soldiers at the other end of town. Ear-piercing
shots rang out on either side, and a 30-minute mock battle ensued.
I stood stunned for the first 10 minutes of the battle. One of the main draws
for attending re-enactments is to experience historical events in an as-close-to-reality
setting as possible. Thus, the environmental canvas is themed to the drama
of the time period, complete with sights and sounds of yesteryear. This battle
was no exception — the reality unsettled my heart, and I had enough around
the 20-minute mark after watching several soldiers fall to the ground in a
mock death sort of way.
Next, it was over to the 1:30 p.m. Field Battle. It was rumored to include
authentic tanks, noted my two machine-fond male companions, so I readied my
camera. While we waited for the action to begin, I noticed how serene the soon-to-be
battlefield appeared. The mid-September day was gorgeous — sunny and
in the mid-70s as the Midwest fall was happening before us. Several dragonflies
surfed the currents in the air, oblivious to what was about to happen. I assumed
that the dragonflies in the 1940s were very much the same.
It didn't take long for the action to begin. This time, we were able to view
both sides in the field engaged in battle head on. Rifles popped, small cannons
exploded. Uniformed men with leaves and sticks in their helmets squatted and
crawled closer, while others drove in their war machines ejecting ammunition
designed to destroy and defeat. Huge explosions rocked the atmosphere and clumps
of earth and smoke fountained into the air. Violence juxtaposed with the backdrop
of a beautiful autumn day. The dragonflies still surfed.
The rest of the day's events included more battles that we decided to bypass
in favor of lunch at an off-site place called the Machine Shed. We did come
back, however, to walk through the mock military campsites in the woods complete
with authentic vehicles and museum-esque displays of army weaponry and other
artifacts.
Meeting Lawrence Spialek
The highlight of Saturday came after I pondered over a display
of famous newspaper headlines, and turned the corner to make eye contact with
a gentle looking elderly man in a uniform. I asked if I could take his picture,
and he immediately smiled and posed with a quiet sense of pride. Lawrence Spialek
is a World War II veteran, who served in the Army Air Corps from 1943-1945.
Surrounding him was his collection of wartime mementos, medals, and accolades,
including those of his brother who died in the war from stepping on a land
mine.
I approached Lawrence to thank him for the picture, and he looked into my
eyes and reflected back something I found quite overwhelming. Perhaps it was
my own thoughts about his life in the context of surviving a world war and
living out his golden years reliving the history that he helped to create.
For a split second I wished his life had been different, and not included the
pain and suffering of war. I was happy to see him there, full of life and vigor
while so many others never had the chance. I could sense that he learned how
to take life in stride.
Lawrence asked where I was from and we began chatting about the re-enactment
events. My husband and brother-in-law joined us and were full of questions
for him. I slipped away to examine his spread of artifacts more closely while
listening to him regale in his experience of D-Day, teaching the young men
with many questions a history lesson they would never read in a book.
We left Midway Village before the Victory Parade at 4:00 p.m. It was the last
event of the day before the costumed volunteers were reprieved for an evening
of relaxation and an all-night camp out. They stayed overnight for today's
continued World War II re-enactment battles and ceremonies. I was surprised
when Lawrence told me, that he too, would be camping out with the rest of the
volunteers.
Now Sunday, I think about everything I experienced at Midway Village yesterday.
I hope that Lawrence had a good night's sleep and was able to express himself
to more eager learners seeking first-hand information about the war. There
is always a story to be found underneath the surface of things, sometimes a
story that is difficult to tell. Lawrence told his with much dignity and pride,
which he earned with his life. •
Endnote: Mr. Spialek passed away on June 28, 2005.
On the Web
National WWII Memorial
Washington, D.C.
Interviews
with Veterans (Including Lawrence Spialek)
Midway Village (Rockford,
Illinois)
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