|
THE GLENN MILLER MEMORIAL WEEKEND
12th
DECEMBER 2005
On the 15th December 1944
Major Glenn Miller arrived at RAF Station Twinwood Farm and
boarded a single engine C-64 Norseman aircraft to travel to
Paris, France where he was to make arrangements for his band
to make a Christmas broadcast, tragically and mysteriously,
the plane never reached France and was never found!
To mark the anniversary of
his disappearance and death, each year the Twinwood
Re-enactors Association in conjunction with “Twinwood
Events” hold a memorial day on the nearest Sunday to the day
he was lost.
This was the first year
where we expanded the event to two day, not for the public
of course, but for the re-enactors. The
public side of things remained focussed on the actual
service and big band concert on the Sunday, which was sold
out with near to 400 people attending this year.
In regards to the living History
side of things which is what matters here, the event started
for some on Friday Afternoon. Those travelling some distance
and attending the dance on the Saturday night chose to
travel up on Friday, many managed to bed down in the SO44
Hut. Kate and her NAAFI team
were the first on site and by the time I had arrived early
Saturday Morning they had the Christmas decorations up and
the tea and coffee on.
For the FAAA the event started even
earlier than Friday. Rehearsals for the parade took place a
couple of weekends before with the First Allied Airborne
Association’s Honor Guard finally being selected for this
duty after a gruelling weekend of Close Quarter Drill
training (see Fort Benning
2005 Article.
This year’s event was the first that
would include a dedicated Glenn Miller Memorial Ball that
would take place in the Hanger on the Saturday night. While
I knew the idea was sound and I knew we would get the
interest, the venue owner took some convincing as the Hanger
had to be ready early on the Sunday morning for the
service. The Dance was a complete success and was supported
by nearly all the Twinwood Airfield Re-enactor Association
groups with many guests. All had a fantastic night. The
numbers were kept to a Max of about 130 people and,
although there was a little over this,
it worked well with all those wanting to be in the dance
hall getting a seat with room to dance.
A great night thoroughly enjoyed by
everyone. As burger vans are
now a common site on most private battles apparently, it was
thought to have one ready to go after the dance outside the
Tower would be appropriate. Boy,
that midnight bacon roll went down well!
Sunday morning for
many was another early start. The
Honor Guard for the GM Memorial Parade was running through
the format of the parade hours before the rest of the
Airfield were up and about. The
early morning mist was as it would have been on the day
Glenn Miller went missing!
The parade went off well, the
sun came out and the temperature rose a little encouraging
the public to venture out from the warm hanger to watch the
ceremony. Several groups laid wreaths at the memorial
service and the Guard performed impeccable drill
representing the USMC, US NAVY, ARMY and the US ARMY AIR
FORCE. The Color party came from the First Allied Airborne
Army badged FAAA with the saluting Gun Team coming from the
Ranger re-enactments Group.
On the Sunday, many of the
Twinwood Living History Groups provided static indoor
displays to promote their association. A great
effort by all of them produced some very nice layouts and
presentations.
Special
thanks should go to the NAAFI team and National Fire Service
Group who provided all the re-enactors with hot drinks and
food on both Saturday and Sunday.
A great
way to finish the year and a fitting tribute to the memory
of Glenn Miller.
L M Bowden
FAAA
|
