September 11th, 2019 by WCBC Radio
Between 2007 and 2009, Cumberland Goes To War was one of Western Maryland’s favorite events, commemorating the service of World War II soldiers and citizens with a weekend of roundtable discussions, reenactors and period entertainment.
Fast forwarding to 2019, original organizer Becky McClarran, supported by a new presenting sponsor in the Allegany County Historical Society, is reviving the event as a “timeline tribute” to everyone in Western Maryland involved in 20th Century overseas conflicts. A wide range of partnering organizations and volunteers are also on board with the revived concept.
The new “Western Maryland Goes to War” will honor those who served in WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm with programming set for Thursday, September 26th through Sunday, September 29th, 2019.
On Thursday, Sept. 26, the Allegany Museum will host a military display and preview of an upcoming ABL Room sponsored by Northrop Grumman and honor US Army Sergeant Major Dennis Preston from Mount Savage.
On Friday, Sept. 27, programming will focus at 1812 Brewery on Mason Road with a full forward base deployment by Fort Detrick’s 21st US Army Signal Brigade and MRE sampling. A concurrent “Good Evening Vietnam” 1812 music event is planned in coordination with local VVA Chapter 172.
Saturday, Sept. 28, the event will be based in Cumberland, featuring a History In Your Attic open house at the Washington Street Library, during which local residents can bring military memorabilia to scan for the Western Maryland History Library website (WHLBR) and their own use.
Downtown Cumberland will be hopping Saturday with WWII music, stage presentations, a USO doughnut table from M&M Bake Shop and photo ops with the East Coast’s most popular Franklin D. Roosevelt impersonator.
Sunday, Sept. 29 programming will include an EAA Breakfast Fly-In and Car Show at the Cumberland Regional Airport, day-long roundtable discussions at the Allegany Museum with military veterans throughout the 20th century and open house displays of military uniforms and home front support at the Gordon Roberts House in Cumberland and the Evergreen Museum in Mount Savage.
A detailed event calendar is still being published as events and partners are being added daily. For up-to-date details, search and follow Western Maryland Goes To War on Facebook or visit www.facebook.com/visitcumberlandmaryland/ for regular updates.
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