Living History Weekend

This weekend, the National D-Day Memorial is offering an opportunity for visitors to experience WWII history in a very fun, engaging, and unique way.  On Saturday, April 28^th historical interpreters with the 29^th Living History Association and the 82^nd Airborne will turn out in full battle gear to show the public what soldiers did, carried, and thought about to prepare for the invasion of Europe.

Visitors can view WWII era German artifacts, attend a briefing on the invasion, examine weapons and equipment, walk inside a period command tent, learn about the life of a medic by viewing period artifacts, meet WWII veterans, see WWII radio controlled airplanes on display, and watch a WWII model train demonstration.

Regularly scheduled tours are offered throughout the day and a food vendor will be on site.  The National D-Day Memorial’s living history event is scheduled for Saturday, April 28^th from 10am to 5pm.   Regular fees apply.  If you need any further information, feel free to check our website, www.dday.org or give us a call at (540)586-3329.

Hope to see you then!

Megan

Ration Era Recipe: Faux Whipped Cream

So our busy season has officially started at the National D-Day Memorial, and we've been running around like crazy people these past few weeks making sure that everything is in ship-shape for our visitors!  So the poor blog has felt a little left-out and perhaps even a tad neglected, so I decided to make things right by featuring a ration-era recipe this week.

I chose a very simple recipe from the ABCs of Wartime Canning that took very little time to whip up.  (Remember, I said its our busy season.)  I also thought this recipe would provide a perfect compliment to all of the refreshing springtime desserts that seem to crop up this time of year.  The recipe is for faux whipped cream. 

The prep time for the recipe was minimal, but it did need to sit in the refrigerator for at least an hour to set up, so if you're brave enough to test it out, you may want to keep that time frame in mind.  What made this recipe so phenomenal is that it transforms average table cream into a light, fluffy dessert topping. So here's what you need for the faux whipped cream: table cream (I used a pint of light cream), plain gelatin, water, and vanilla (if necessary).

Here's what you do:

1. In a small cup, place 2 tsp. plain gelatin into 4 Tbsp. cold water

2. Set the cup with the gelatin mixture into a shallow bowl of hot water.

3. Stir the gelatin and cold water until it dissovles

4. Pour one cup of cream into a medium-large bowl

5. Slowly pour the gelatin mixture into the cream

6. Using an electric mixer, beat the cream on high until it thickens a little

7. Add vanilla and/or sugar if desired

8. Place mixture into the refrigerator and let set for at least an hour

9. Serve!

I took a big risk and prepared the whipped cream on a night that company was coming over.  My unsuspecting company never knew I used a ration-era whipped cream recipe for their crepe topping.  In fact a few people even commented on how delicious the "homemade" whipped cream was.  So, I guess we can consider this recipe a success!

Enjoy!

Megan

Game Kit: States By Shape

So this week I decided to return to our trusty "Game Kit for Men and Women in the Service" (featured in a post from a few months ago).  Much to their relief, I gave my family members a break this go round.  Instead I subjected some of my co-workers to this pocket full of fun. 

The game we played, named "My Country 'Tis of Thee", asks its players to identify states and their capitals based on shape alone - not location.  Playing the game quickly took me back to my elementary school geography quizzes.  The fact that my sharp 5th grade mind could rattle off all 50 states and their accompanying capitals in less than two minutes was a great source of pride.  Naturally, I thought this game would be a piece of cake. Instead, I ended up eating a few slices of humble pie.

As I competed with my coworkers to prove who was more geographically adept, I soon realized that identifying states by their shape alone was much harder than I originally thought.  So here's my challenge to you: try to beat my score.

Here are the instructions for the game:
   1. Take out a sheet of paper and number 1-32 on your paper.
   2. Using the game card (on the left), identify each state and write in your answer next to the corresponding number on your answer sheet.
   3. Once the state is identified (or after you've made your "educated guess"), write in the state's capital next to the state's name.
   4. Once you've completed the game, scroll down for the answer key.  Give yourself one point for each state correctly identified.  Give yourself two points if you also knew the state's capital.
   5. Tally your points!  If you correctly identify each state & capital, you'll end up with 64 points. 

Now I know this may be intimidating for some, but I scored a whopping 41 points when I played.  If you beat me (without cheating) let me know and I'll be sure to post your score for all to see!

Good Luck!

Megan




Answer Key:

Lunchbox Lecture: Power of Persuassion

I apologize for my "radio silence" last week, but I'm back and ready to talk about, in my opinion, one of the most interesting aspects of WWII: propaganda.  I've always been fascinated with propaganda and its power to influence and motivate people in ways both good and bad. 

Next week the National D-Day Memorial will host a presentation on propaganda's influence on the American Home Front.  

The presentation will focus on how propaganda inspired the public and evoked powerful emotions on the war.  This is an appropriate study for the month of March, Women's History Month, since during WWII, images of women were frequently used in propaganda. Some displayed women as independent, strong, and patriotic, while others illustrated the idea that the enemy posed a direct threat to women and children on the homefront. A soldier only had to look at a poster to answer the question, “what are we fighting for?”  

For your enjoyment, I've included one of my favorite propaganda pieces from the war ...

One reason why I adore this poster is because of a personal encounter I had with a WWII veteran of the submarine service.  A few years ago, while working in the old military tent that we use for field trips at the Memorial, this particular veteran and his family wandered in to look around.  After surveying the contents of the tent, he noticed this poster hanging on the wall.  

He turned to me and said, "There's something wrong with that picture."

"What's that?" I asked, believing he had a very serious concern to bring to my attention.  

He replied, "When I joined the submarine service, no girl ever hugged my neck like that."  

We both had a good chuckle at his expense. 

What is so interesting and powerful about the familiar and iconic pieces of WWII propaganda, is that they strike an emotional chord with people.  Still today, people view these images and feel encouraged, guilty, outraged, hopeful, or inspired.

The lecture will take place at noon, Wednesday, March 7th, at the Bedford Area Welcome Center.  Admission is free, but donations are always happily accepted!

I hope you enjoy!
- Megan

Killer Pancakes

With Shrove Tuesday (or Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday, Pancake Day, or whatever else you choose to call it) just around the corner, I though it would be appropriate to discuss pancakes.  No, I won't be featuring a recipe this week.  Instead, I thought I'd highlight something a little more exciting: explosive powder!  You might be wondering: "What's the correlation between pancakes and explosive powder?"  The answer: "Aunt Jemima".

 "Aunt Jemima", as it was known among operatives, was an explosive powder used by the OSS in WWII.  (The OSS, or Office of Strategic Services, was the precursor to the CIA and existed during the war to gather intelligence and support resistance efforts against the Axis.)  As you might have guessed, the powder was nicknamed based on its resemblance to the ever popular ready-made pancake mix.  It was invented by George Kistiakowsky who was a "soldier-turned-chemist" of Russian descent also know for his work in Los Alamos.

"Aunt Jemima" explosive powder was designed to look and act like flour.  It could be baked and consumed without exploding, although ingesting it was generally not encouraged.  The explosive powder, once perfected, was packaged in flour bags and was easily smuggled to the Chinese resistance fighting the Japanese.

So, as you enjoy your pancakes and beignets this Mardi Gras, you'll have a little something extra to chew on.

-Megan

References:

Central Intelligence Agency. (2007). "Weapons and spy gear". Retrieved from http://www.cia.gov/library/center-for-the-study-of-intelligence/csi-publications/books-and-monograms/oss/art08.htm.

Hunt, E. H. & Aunapu, G. (2007). American spy: My secret history in the CIA, Watergate & beyond. Wiley Pub.

O'Donnell, P.K. (2004). Operatives, spies, & saboteurs: The unknown story of the men and women of World War II's OSS. Free Press. 

Wang, A. (2008). In Sputnik's shadow: the President's Science Advisory Committee and Cold War America. Rutgers University Press.

The Valor of Lieutinent Vernon Baker

I thought it would be fitting to submit a post in honor of Black History Month.  Sadly, relatively little information exists on African-American service during WWII, although the African-American contribution to the war effort was valiant and note-worthy.  One reason for the scarcity of information is the fact that during WWII the military was still a segregated institution.  In fact, African-Americans were barred from combat service until 1941, and even then, only one all-black Army division saw infantry combat in the European theater.  

92nd Infantry Division Patch

This division was the famed and now celebrated 92nd Infantry Division known as the Buffalo soldiers.  The 92nd was sent into combat for the first time during WWII late in the summer of 1944.  The division landed in Italy and made its way through the country until they encountered German troops in September of the same year.  The Buffalo soldiers continued in their quest to push the Germans farther and farther into Northern Italy.

In late Spring 1945, near Viareggio, Italy, Lt. Vernon Baker of the 370th Regimental Combat Team, 92nd Infantry Division, proved his devotion to his country through an incredible act of valor.  Lt. Baker single-handedly killed 9 Germans in a single day during a siege of an enemy stronghold.  After the attack subsided, Baker retrieved the dog tags of all 19 men killed in his regiment and returned each dog tag to headquarters that evening.

Lt. Vernon Baker

For his service, Lt. Baker was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross, but in 1992 the U.S. Army conducted an investigation into the qualifications outlined for Congressional Medal of Honor recipients.  The Army determined that several African-American servicemen who were eligible to receive the Medal of Honor were initially passed over based on racial discrimination.  Finally, in January 1997, President Bill Clinton awarded Lt. Baker the Medal of Honor - which he should have received decades earlier.

 
-Megan


References:
Orso, A. ed. (2008). Armchair reader WWII: Extraordinary facts and stories. Lincolnwood, IL: West Side Publishing

Ration-Era Potato Soup

This past Monday in Central Virginia was a dreary, cold, rainy day - perfect for a bowl of steaming soup.  So I decided to turn to the trusty "ABCs of Wartime Canning" cookbook for a ration-era inspired meal.  I found just what I was looking for under the low-ration points category: Creamy Potato Soup.  Perhaps one of the most enticing aspects of this recipe was that I had everything I needed in my pantry to put the meal together.  Also, this recipe was very budget-friendly and took less than 30 minutes to prep, cook, and serve.  Clearly, you can see that I was quite impressed with all aspects of this culinary experiment.  

The only real prep work involved with the recipe was peeling and thinly slicing five potatoes and an onion.  The rest of the steps involved dumping ingredients in the stock pot and stirring contents together.  If you decide to test this recipe out yourself (which I sincerely hope you will), don't be deceived by the potato to water ratio.  I seriously contemplated adding more water than the recipe called for so that all contents in the pot could be covered.  Thankfully I resisted my urge, and the results came out beautifully.  The potatoes and onions cooked down nicely and made the liquid thick and starchy.  Then the addition of flour and milk further enhanced the creaminess of the soup.  

My only complaint with this recipe was that it was far to bland.  After I tasted the initial results, I liberally added more salt and pepper, and I even threw in some chili powder to kick the flavor up a bit.  The end result was delicious.  This could easily become a go-to meal in our house since it was so easy, cheap, and tasty. 

Enjoy!

Megan