Good Day
This year's event was one of our most successful. We had 30 plus exhibits, and had added many new items. This was our first time having a children's section and Mrs. Campbell did a fantastic job. Next year we will have a lesson plan for teachers to take a look at.
We had meteorology like in 1942, a very full barracks, the tower was awesome!! Tom M did a great job as always. The FMHA Bunker Busters helped us a lot in that endeavor.
The motor pool section has grown and we disassembled a motor for the public, weapons display in two areas, small arms demonstrations, cannon firing, a photo graphic display as in 1942 not your normal cell phone like today. multiple vendors for food, our horse patrol returned, our Chaplain did a great program and was ministering to folks on site.
We had a great communications display, switchboards, etc, Spamtime handled our sound needs perfectly, The WWTunes did a great job and were joined this year by Olivia Cress and her singing abilities, Welcome back O.
We had many repeat visitors and some who are already asking what armored vehicles we will get for the 2025 80th anniversary to the end of WW2 program. Folks we are on it!
Many old friends came together.
We have had more than a few new people coming and a lot of old friends. For our re enactors, that background check is good for three years. And finally, we are keeping much better records compared to years past. Even if our parks person, Kaitlyn Dykes gets promoted, we will have duplicate copies of all.
Best of all parking and shuttle buses were perfect. We had a lot of criticism last year when the parks was paving the beach lot. That had required people to stop at Cape Henlopen High School which was not well marked. Too many people drove to the park and were turned back. This was not appreciated by the public. That has been corrected. This year was flawless.
Our FMHDD thanks go out to all of the re enactors and others who helped out and made this a great experience yet again. This was year19. Year 20 will be awesome.
Our hearty thanks for the public who showed up and made the event really special.
Looking forward to 2025 and stayed tuned.
Donald G Hattier DC
MSGT NCOIC
1252 SCSU-QMC
Fort Miles Del
PS as always, if I made a typo, please email me. The vision is not what it used to be. That and I never could type.
Please refer to the above for information in the BGC.
It seems that some numbnut volunteer went after a kid. For legal reasons they parks and all ste functions now require anyone who may come into contact with kids to be screened
As noted above the State of Delaware is implementing a new system for the BGC.
Having completed the form myself, you will need a digital PDF of your driver's license.
The actual link is buried in small print about halfway down the page. Not at the bottom.
It would appear that this is a similar form being used by the state for potential employees as well. Just agree, as none of that will apply to you.
Anyway, next year won't be as bad for most folks.
Donald G Hattier DC
MSGT NCOIC
1252 SCSU-QMC
Fort Miles Del
PS as always, if I made a typo, please email me. The vision is not what it used to be. That and I never could type. That and my keyboard is dyslexic.
24 April 2024
In 2023 we had great press coverage. This included a TV segment which is on the link below.
If anyone wonders how far our reach to support Fort Miles is, just realize that all of Delmarva has access to this broadcast.
Thank you to Tom Minton for sending me this link.
More pictures and links will be added.
Many of you have noticed over the years there have been many different examples of United States Heavy Armor at Fort Miles. These are generously loaned by Big Mike in PA and delivered and cared for by the kind folks at the 903rd Heavy Automotive Maintenace Battalion.
This year we had a British Sexton 1944 with a 17n Pdr.
Fort Miles has had everything from DUKWs to a Stuart Kangaroo to an M18 HellCat Tank Destroyer. Recently Mike added an M10 to his collection.
As a plug for his group, Wheels of Liberation, is having an open house in late June. They have over 40 pieces of outstandingly restored equipment from many countries that served to rid the world of the NAZI menace.
Mike and his group have been very generous of their time and resources is allowing us at Fort Miles to share their equipment.
There have been many changes in the Fort Miles structure since its inception almost 20 years ago. The Battery 519 is now an official museum and has its own website.
Currently the museum site can be gleaned from the Fort Miles Historic Association website.
Photo date and author unknown.
Original 1940, note the one year enlistment, soon to be for the duration. Thank you, Scott Wallen, for this original.