The "Three Centuries Of African American Soldiers" Exhibit In Trenton, New Jersey On February 28, 2016

Earlier today, in honor of Black History Month, the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, New Jersey hosted the annual "Three Centuries Of African American Soldiers" exhibit. My good friends representing the U.S.C.T. (United States Colored Troops) were present at the Civil War table along with historians portraying Soldiers of other conflicts from the 1700s, 1800s and 1900s.  I spoke with a number of people about teaming up with them to put together an event.  I certainly have the artifacts, documents and records.  It would definitely be amazing.

Here are the photographs ...

It was a bit of a surprise seeing the German artifacts at this event ... war souvenirs I assume:

A Visit To The Grave Of Frank Woodruff Buckles On The Fifth Anniversary Of His Passing

Frank Woodruff Buckles, America's Last Surviving Veteran Of World War I, passed away five years ago today on February 27, 2011. He is, without question, one of the most important figures in this nation's history. On this, the Fifth Anniversary of his passing, I visited his grave at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia so I could commemorate the occasion. You will note the signed portrait and the photograph of the two of us taken on the day that we met back in 2009.

I have never forgotten about the extraordinary meeting that I had with Frank Buckles.  That meeting was the very first topic on this blog, and, all of these years later, I am always happy to blog about "The Last Of The Doughboys".  I am elated to have finally made it to his gravesite.

Here is a video that I shot today:

The url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGkJ2WSp2-k

Photographs ...

Historical Outings And Other Events For 2016

I am back with a new list for a new year ... albeit a bit late for the new year.  It is 2016, and this year I am returning to Arlington National Cemetery.  The last time that I was there was in 2011 for the Funeral of America's Last Great War Veteran Frank Woodruff Buckles, and I will be there in 2016 to visit the Grave of Frank Woodruff Buckles.  As always, throughout the year, I will be updating this list as information pours in.

January
30 Battle Of The Bulge World War II Reeanctment in Fort Indiantown Gap, PA.  Info: http://www.wwiiha.org/new/index.php/fig

February
13-14 Greenburg's Train And Toy Show in Somerset, NJ. Info: http://greenbergshows.com/schedule.html & http://trainshow.com/schedule
13 Burlington County Railroad Club Winter Open House And Toy Train Flea Market in Cinnaminson, NJ.  Info: http://bcmrc.org
14 Burlington County Railroad Club Winter Open House And Toy Train Flea Market in Cinnaminson, NJ.  Info: http://bcmrc.org
20 Burlington County Railroad Club Winter Open House And Toy Train Flea Market in Cinnaminson, NJ.  Info: http://bcmrc.org
21 Burlington County Railroad Club Winter Open House And Toy Train Flea Market in Cinnaminson, NJ.  Info: http://bcmrc.org
20-21 Greenburg's Train And Toy Show in Wilmington, DE. Info: http://trainshowinc.com & http://greenbergshows.com/schedule.html
21 Wayne Train Show in Wayne, NJ. Info: http://www.eastcoasttrainparts.com/wayne.htm
27 A Visit To The Grave Of Frank Woodruff Buckles, America's Last Surviving Veteran Of World War I, On The fifth Anniversary Of His Passing in Arlington, Virginia.  Info: I am planning this event.
28 Exhibit: Three Centuries Of African American Soldiers in Trenton, NJ.  Info: http://www.barracks.org/3-centuries-of-african-american-soldiers.html

March
05 Train, Toy And Collectible Show in Stratford, NJ.  Info: http://trc.trains.com/events.aspx?page=info&eventid=20442
06 Brick Train Show in Brick, NJ.  Info: http://www.eastcoasttrainparts.com/brick.htm
12 Swap Meet And Train Show in Merchantville, NJ.  Info: No link yet.
12 Foodways On The 18th Century in Trenton, NJ.  Info: http://www.barracks.org/best-if-used-by.html
12-13 Greenburg's Train And Toy Show in Edison, NJ. Info: http://trainshowinc.com & http://greenbergshows.com/schedule.html
13 International Hobby Expo in Edison, NJ.  Info: http://giantshow.com
19-20 Exhibit: The Evolution Of Lighting in Schwenksville, PA.  Info: http://www.valleyforge.org/includes/calendar-of-events/-What-s-the-Bright-Idea-The-Evolution-of-Lighting-/16616
20 Gilbertsville Toy Train Show in Gilbertsville, PA.  Info: No link yet.

April
02 Punk Rock Flea Market in Trenton, NJ.
03 Punk Rock Flea Market in Trenton, NJ.
10 Mechanical Music Extravaganza in Wayne, NJ.  Info: http://www.antique-sound.com
24 Toms River Train and Toy Show in Toms River, NJ.  Info: http://trc.trains.com/events.aspx?page=info&eventid=19972

May
03 New Hope Train And Sale in New Hope, PA.  Info: http://www.modeltrainshows.com/2009/03/pennsylvania-train-shows.html
14 New Jersey State History Fair in Manalapan, NJ.  Info: http://www.njhistoryfair.org
15 Wayne Train Show and Sale in Wayne, NJ.  Info: http://trc.trains.com/events.aspx?page=info&eventid=19961 & http://www.eastcoasttrainparts.com/wayne.htm
21-2 9th Street Italian Market Festival in Philadelphia, PA.  Info: http://www.italianmarketfestival.com
22 Brick Train Show in Brick, NJ.  Info: http://trc.trains.com/events.aspx?page=info&eventid=19975 & http://www.eastcoasttrainparts.com/brick.htm

June
05-6 Civil War Event in Schwenksville, PA.  Info: http://www.ppmcivilwar.org
18 Annual March Out Of The Continental Army in Valley Forge, PA.  Info: http://www.nps.gov/vafo/planyourvisit/event-details.htm?eventID=3799543-307230

July
26 Mill Creek And Lycoming 2015 Summer Train Meet in Pennsdale, PA.  Info: http://www.modeltrainshows.com/2009/03/pennsylvania-train-shows.html

September
18 Gilbertsville Toy Train Show in Gilbertsville, PA.  Info: No link yet.

October
09 Mechanical Music Extravaganza in Wayne, NJ.  Info: http://www.antique-sound.com

December
04 Gilbertsville Toy Train Show in Gilbertsville, PA.  Info: No link yet.
31 Battle Of Trenton Revolutionary War Reenactment in Trenton, NJ.  Info: http://www.barracks.org/battle-of-trenton-reenactment.html

Part 3: Star Wars Toys In The Snow Recreating Hoth Scenes (Rebel Hangar, Imperial Troops) In January Of 2016

This is it - the grand finale of the Star Wars In The Snow Series.  The photographs in this Part 3 blog entry were taken on January 24 of this year.  In the following pictures, you will see the Rebel Bunker/Hangar with Pilots, X-Wings Fighters, a Y-Wing Fighter, a Rebel Armored Snowspeeder, a Troop Transport, Tauntauns, Soldiers, Commanders, 2-1B, FX-7, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, a Vehicle Maintenance Energizer and the mighty Millennium Falcon ... mighty and discolored.

I thought that I would include an encore with the Hoth Stormtroopers and the Tripod Laser Cannon.  It was getting dark by the end of the Hangar shots and it was dark by the time that I captured these shots.  I wanted to get them in the light ... well, there is always the next snowstorm for that.  By the way, the middle Snowtrooper does not look as yellowed in person as it looks in the pics.

Update (January 30, 2016): I finally put together a video version of the photoshoot:

Here is the url in case the video does not embed properly: https://youtu.be/tPPgona6gFA

Part 2: Star Wars Toys In The Snow Recreating Hoth Scenes (Han, Chewie, Probot, Luke, Imperial-Rebel Battle) In January Of 2016

It is January 27, 2016, and I am continuing with the Hoth recreations that I set up in the snow.  All of the photographs in this Part 2 blog entry were taken on January 24.  You will see Han Solo and Chewbacca going at it with the Probot, Luke Skywalker scaling an AT-AT (All Terrain Armored Transport) and the big battle with two AT-AT's, two AT-ST's (All Terrain Scout Transports), Hoth Stormtroopers (aka Snowtroopers) and a Tripod Laser Cannon versus Rebel Soldiers, Rebel Commanders, a Radar Laser Cannon and a Turret.  As you may have seen in my 2003 photos, I had two Turrets.  Who knows what happened to that other one.  You can see the sun passed over that plot of snow where the battle was set up.  There are advantages and disadvantages to that.  In any event, I think the shots are great.  I particularly like how the images of the Rebels' turned out.  Now for the pictures ...

Here is a screenshot from the video footage that I recorded:

You can see that I'm lovin it!  See you all for the final part tomorrow ...

Update (January 30, 2016): I finally put together a video version of the photoshoot:


Here is the url in case the video does not embed properly: https://youtu.be/tPPgona6gFA