November 14, 2010

When you pay your entry fee and get handed a pair of earplugs, you know things are going to get loud.

Flamethrowers, tanks, and lots of guns!

We went to the living history program at the Pacific Combat Zone today to see a reenactment of the Battle of Tarawa.
My Dad is a WWII Veteran and was at Tarawa so I have been really interested in seeing this reenactment.

Re-enactors demonstrate the weapons and discuss the tactics and strategy that won the war.


BAR - Browning Auto Rifle


Type 96 Light Machine Gun (Japanese)


Stuart Tank

The program lasted about an hour and 45 minutes.
The re-enactment takes place on a replica of the beach at Tarawa.


LVT - Landing Vehicle, Tracked


Lots of smoke


Flamethrower


Re-enactors

November 1943: A Japanese leader boasted “It will take one million men, one hundred years to conquer Tarawa”.

The Americans did it in 76 hours.

The National Museum of the Pacific War is dedicated to perpetuating the memory of the Pacific Theater of WWII in order that the sacrifices of those who contributed to our victory may never be forgotten.


Raising the flag

Tuesday, October 26, 2010

We arrived at the Nimitz Museum at 9:00 when it opened. There was still a lot to see. We spent about 4 1/2 hours in the George Bush Gallery.

The brand new George Bush Gallery tells the story of the Pacific War. The story includes media presentations, testimonials and historical artifacts. It covers all aspects and stages of the Pacific War including: Pearl Harbor, Doolittle Raid, Coral Sea and Midway, Tarawa, Texas in WWII, Leyte Gulf, Iwo Jima, Okinawa, Hiroshima and Victory.


B-24 Bomber


Texas Capitol poster


Plaza of the Presidents

Monday, October 25, 2010

We got to the Admiral Nimitz Museum about 10:30. Luckily the pass is for 2 days. It's going to take us that long to go through it!
The Nimitz Gallery is about the life and career of Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz and his famous career as a military leader who played a key role in the US victory over Japan. Admiral Nimitz was born in Fredericksburg, Texas.

15-foot, 24,744 pound solid bronze screw


Conning tower from the USS Pintado

We spent a couple of hours in the museum then took a break for lunch.

After lunch we walked to the Pacific Combat Zone which is two blocks from the main museum. The tour is included with the entrance fee to the museum or can be purchased seperately. We were the only ones on the tour.

The Pacific Combat Zone is a 3-acre indoor and outdoor living history and exhibit area. A tour guide led us through various combat locations of the Pacific War-- the hangar deck of an aircraft carrier with a TBM Avenger torpedo bomber, wings folded back; a South Pacific PT boat base with the world's only combat proven, restored, PT boat; and finally an island battlefield, modeled on the Japanese defenses at Tarawa.


TBM Avenger torpedo bomber with wings folded back


PT Boat: Patrol Torpedo Boat-309 is the only restored World War II combat veteran Higgins class PT boat on public display in the United States today.


Lots to see on the grounds


LVT - Landing Vehicle, Tracked

There is still a lot more to see. We plan to get back in the morning at 9:00 when the museum opens.

Saturday, October 16, 2010

Today was “Natural Fiber: Fashionable, Functional, Fun” at the Sauer/Beckmann Living History Farm. We’ve been getting ready for it for a couple of days. It turned out to be a lot of fun. Mark has gotten his costume and has really jumped into his role as a 1915 farmer in eastern Gillespie County.


Mark P. McClelland, PE (Professional Engineer), PF (Professional Farmer)

My day was spent in the store and visitor center but I did take some time to go down to the farm and take some pictures. At the farm there were several volunteers demonstrating crochet, knitting, sewing, quilting and other activities that would have been performed during that time.


There were several very old, beautiful quilts that were on display.


Knitting

I donated a few of my crocheted afghans that I happened to have in the RV to be used as exhibits.


"Tiger Butterfly"
One of my hand crocheted afghans.

Mark spent his day showing folks how to make rope.


Making rope.


Turning sisil twine into rope.

We had a great time! Volunteering is getting more fun every week!

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

We drove to Johnson City this morning to visit LBJ’s boyhood home. It’s a very clean and tidy national park. We watched a couple of movies, one about Lady Bird and one about LBJ before we walked around the grounds.


LBJ's boyhood home.


Well maintained trails around the park.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

We’ve survived our first two weeks as volunteers! I didn’t think we would after the first couple of days but we are starting to get an idea of what is expected of us and are settling into our volunteer positions.

We went to the Mesquite Festival in Fredericksburg today. There were a lot of pretty items to look at.

Friday, October 7, 2010

I got to tag Monarch Butterflies today!
One of the park staff caught about 75 Monarch Butterflies and set up a table outside the visitor center. I went out to watch and was handed a butterfly and a tiny little sticker to put on his wing.
After recording the date, tag number, and sex, the butterfly was released.
One of mine walked around on my hand for a while before finally flying off.
I’ll be able to track my butterflies if they are ever found by going to www.monarchwatch.com


If the butterfly has a pheromone gland it is a male.


The tag is always put in the same place on the wing.