Toccoa is getting ready to welcome
returning WWII veterans, their families and friends, and hundreds of visitors
during the Currahee Military Weekend, Oct. 2 – Oct. 6, 2014. The mission of this weekend celebration is to honor the courageous men
who trained at Camp Toccoa, to teach WWII history to our young people, and to celebrate
our military’s commitment to America.
Many of
the weekend events will be held in the downtown Toccoa. Thursday, October 2,
there will be a showing of the first episode of the HBO mini-series “The Band
of Brothers.” The movie will be shown in the historic Schaefer Center at 7:00
P.M. Cost is $1.00. Friday, October 3, registration will begin at the Currahee
Military Museum at 10:00 a.m. in the Mitchell Allen Memorial Hall. Then from 1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. there will be
a book signing with WWII veteran authors at the same venue. The popular Hanger
Dance will be held at 7:00 p.m. at the Toccoa Airport. Tickets are $10.00 at
the Chamber of Commerce or $15.00 at the door.
Saturday, October 5, the day will begin with the
Special Forces Association Parachute Jump Team who will jump over Boyd Field at
the start of the Veteran’s Parade around 10:50. They will jump with their spectacular
signature 20ft by 30ft American Flag. The Veterans parade will start at 11:00
a.m. and will begin on Doyle St and Pond St, go down Doyle St, turn on Sage St,
and then go down Foreacre St to the Historic Depot. This year’s parade will be
the biggest yet with the returning veterans, several large military vehicles,
the SC High School band, as well as the SCHS JR ROTC and CAP.
The opening ceremony will begin at 11:00 a.m. with
the Blue Ridge Rifles team from North Georgia College and State University at
the historic depot.
Throughout the day, visitors can witness the
living history displays on the courthouse lawn and see what the living
conditions were for the soldiers during the war. There will also be a
Memorabilia Show and Sale in the historic courthouse. The show will have
memorabilia from WWI, WWII, and other foreign wars. It will be open from Friday
morning through Saturday afternoon.
Also, during this year’s
celebration, there
will be a special photographic exhibit in the Mitchell Allen room of the
Currahee Military Museum. This special exhibit, “Private Presidential Pathways”
will feature photographs taken by New York Times photographer, George Tames, of
several United States presidents.
Throughout
the day there will be special events at the Tocoa Airport including helicopter
rides.
Named in 2012 as the Best Downtown Event in Georgia by the Georgia Downtown Association and
in 2014 Top 20 Events in the Southeast by
the Southeastern Tourism Society, Currahee
Military Weekend is expected in bring in visitors from all over the country as
well as international visitors. According to Brenda Carlan, Director of the
Currahee Military Museum, “This will be a great weekend and we encourage our
community to come out.”
