Memorial Day at the WorlD War II Experience Museum in Gettys
Free Author Talks
In observance of Memorial Day, we’ve invited four authors to present topics honoring Veterans, their reflections, and memory.
James Rada will join us at noon to discuss Chuck Caldwell, a local resident who fought at Guadalcanal and Tarawa. He was a well-known resident of the area who sculpted figurines or sports, military, music, and historical people. James is a bestselling local author who has written a number of books about the Civil War and WWII. His biography, Clay Soldiers: One Marine’s Story of War, Art, & Atomic Energy tells the story of Chuck Caldwell.
Local author, Charlene Briggs joins us at 1:00pm with a book reading and discussion from Letters to Lida, a war memoir based on 150 letters her father, B29 Tail Gunner S/Sgt David J. Lemal, wrote to his mother during WWII. Charlene will share an inside glimpse into the realities of an airman's life during wartime in the words of her father.
Local author, Leon Reed will discuss, Gettysburg and the Bulge in Fact and Memory: Five Soldiers’ Experience During and After America’s Two Greatest Battles. Leon is a retired U.S. Senate Aide, defense consultant, and history teacher. He lives in Gettysburg and is the co-author of A Combat Engineer with Patton’s Army: The Fight Across Europe with the Eightieth “Blue Ridge” Division in World War II. He is also the editor of Bulge Bugle, the quarterly magazine of the Battle of the Bulge Association.
Award-winning author and journalist Joseph David Cress will talk about his book series World War II Memories. During the presentation, Cress will share stories of Veterans who fought Nazi Germany and Imperial Japan. A full-time reporter for over 32 years, Cress is the author of ten books covering the topics of local history, true crime and World War II history.
Author talks will begin at noon and continue hourly. Authors will be available before and after to meet, discuss, and sign their books.
The Legacy of War ~ A Perpetual assault
Westminster Presbyterian Church10 West Pleasant Grove Road West Chester, PA 19382
Authors Bruce Mowday and Charlene Briggs will present "The LEGACY OF WAR: A Perpetual Assault." Drawing on research from their books, they describe the long-term impacts of war on soldiers, their friends and families, and the broader society, all of whom have suffered from the effects of war since the first battle was fought millennia ago.
The meeting will be held in Spellman Jr with social coffee & a variety of snacks at 9:30 & THE LEGACY OF WAR presentation from 10 -11 AM.
Date: February 7
Time:10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Location: Westminster Presbyterian Church10 West Pleasant Grove Road
West Chester, PA 19382 United States + Google Map
WWII Veterans Reunion
Please join Charlene Briggs at the WWII Experience Museum on November 12, 2022 between 11:00 AM and 3:00 PM.
S/Sgt David J. Lemal's WWII artifacts that have been donated to the Museum will be on display and Charlene will share stories from her father's WWII memoir Letters to Lida.
new talk series
The Legacy of War; A Perpetual Assault
The Legacy of War: A Perpetual Assault is a dynamic new program offered to communities and organizations by authors Bruce E. Mowday and Charlene L. Briggs.
Drawing upon their research and reporting on historical accounts of war, authors Bruce Mowday and Charlene Briggs have developed a forum on the Legacy of War ~ an open dialog on how individuals and communities can better serve veterans.
“When my father and I went on book tour,” Briggs said, “so many veterans and their family members shared stories with us about how the war affected them and their family.” There is a silent side to conflict, Briggs discovered, that lives on in soldiers long after the war is over.
Mowday has authored more than 20 books on history, true crime, business and sports, including four books on the Civil War and two on the American Revolution.
Rooted in historical perspectives from Bruce's research on the American Revolution and Civil War and Charlene's father's personal accounts from WWII, the talks are designed to open dialog on how individuals and communities can better serve veterans.
To schedule a talk, or for more information, contact author Bruce Mowday at mowday@mowday.com.
July 23, 2022. Gettysburg, PA
Experience stories of American sacrifice, unity, and might in WWII history this weekend at Gettysburg. https://visitww2.org/
Gettysburg Foundation hosts talk by Charlene Briggs and Bruce Mowday on “The Legacy of War: A Perpetual Assault” on Saturday, July 23, 2022 at the Gettysburg Foundation's George Spangler farm at 1:00 p.m.
The Pennsylvania Cable Network will cover the presentation.
The Legacy of War; A Perpetual Assault
S/Sgt. David J. Lemal & Charlene L. Briggs
Bruce E. Mowday
CURRENT EVENTS
MID-ATLANTIC AIR MUSEUM READING AIR SHOW
MID-ATLANTIC AIR MUSEUMS 31st ANNIVERSARY WWII WEEKEND
A GATHERING OF WARBIRDS READING REGIONAL AIRPORT, PA
JUNE 3,4,5, 2022
SWING DANCE SATURDAY NIGHT
BOOK SIGNINGS/EVENTS
PREVIOUS EVENTS
9th Annual WWII Weekend coming to Freedoms Foundation campus May 4-5 2019 The Military Living History Association will present its 9th Annual WWII Weekend at Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge on May 4-5.
ATLANTIC AIR MUSEUM WORLD WAR II WEEKEND
Report to the Mid-Atlantic Air Museum on Reading Airport (KRDG) this 2-3-4 June for the annual WWII Weekend & Hanger Dances. The published Operations Order is packed with fascinating & fun events, aviation history and entertainment best described here http://www.maam.org/maamwwii.html
More photos…..http://www.maam.org/wwii/photos/ww2_photo.htm
Friday, Saturday and Sunday Charlene Briggs, will be in the Hanger selling her recent release Letters to Lida, World War II told through the eyes, heart and words of a B-29 tail-gunner.
Letters to Lida contains 150 letters Charlene’s father, S/Sgt. David Lemal wrote to his mother during WWII and his reflections on war as he read those letters to Charlene nearly seventy years later.
http://www.letterstolida.com.
There are Hanger Dances both Friday and Saturday evening, with Saturday expected to be the main effort. Fun 40s attire is optional but highly recommended to keep morale high.
Friday you’ll swing to the “Let’s Dance” big band, appearing ala Artie Shaw’s USN Big Band. On Saturday, 3 June, The Glenn Miller, USAAF style “Swing Fever” band will set your feet to tapping. 1900-2200 (7PM – 10PM.) Tickets are $12, the lettuce (cash) will be collected at the gate. You must report prior to 1930 (7:30PM) before the gates close. Arrive closer to 6pm to catch the arrival of the President Franklin D. Roosevelt for his inspiring speech to kick off the dance. It’s best to mess (dine) earlier.
The best local mess hall is http://www.readingairport.org/services/restaurants.html the Reading Airport Restaurant. A good plan is to arrive there for an early dinner Saturday 4:45 – 5pm, soon to be worked off on the hanger floor.
So you jitter bugs and hep cats, no off time jive (sorry excuse). It’ll be solid murder (something solid or terrific). The Big Band on the main kick (stage) always has a killer-diller canary (too hot to handle female vocalist). Soldiers, Sailors and Airmen of all nations will be in their dashing dress uniforms. The ladies will be khaki-wacky (boy crazy). Saturday evening, the joint will be jumpin.
You are expected to do map reconnaissance http://www.maam.org/map_direct.htm Do not depend totally on your GPS.
~ Stu Gillard
LOCAL AUTHOR'S EVENT ABINGTON LIBRARY
Saturday April 22, 2017
Abington Library
1030 Old York Road
Abington, PA 19001
(215) 885-5180
Email | Directions
Meet S/Sgt. David J. Lemal between 1:30 PM and4:30 PM
LOCAL AUTHORS DAY DECEMBER 3, 2016 DOWNINGTOWN LIBRARY 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Book signings and Roundtable Discussion 122 Wallace Avenue Downingtown, PA 19335
Meet the Authors
Charlene Briggs, Adele Downs, Katherine McIntyre, Joel Moore, Bruce Mowday, Kellie Springer, Susan Weidener, Betty Wilder
HONOR FLIGHT.
David Lemal is being escorted by his daughter Charlene on the Tour of Honor trip to the WWII Memorial on October 11. Please help us honor our World War II veterans!
Honor Flight Philadelphia is asking citizens of this great nation, young and old, to take a moment to write “thank you” letters to our veterans, which will be delivered to them on October 11, 2016 during their next Tour of Honor to Washington, DC where they will visit the memorial dedicated to their service and sacrifice. Although we can never repay them, this tour and these letters are just a small token of our appreciation for all that they have endured so we can live in a free society.
Thursday September 29, 2016
David Lemal will speak about his WWII experiences at the Lehigh Valley Veterans History Project in Allentown. Free Admission.
1633 Elm Street Allentown, Pa. 7:00 PM
July 11, 2016 Avalon, N.J. Library 7:00pm – 8:00pm
Location: Multipurpose Room (Avalon Elementary School adjacent to the Library) S/Sgt. David J. Lemal will discuss his journey through WWII and his daughter and book author, Charlene Briggs ,will comment on war as seen through the eyes of a soldier’s daughter. Briggs is an environmental scientist and educator currently teaching Environmental Science at Temple University. Q&A and book signing to follow lecture.http://www.avalonfreelibrary.org/events.aspx?vw=3&itemid=3587&d=20160711
David J. Lemal is a VIP Guest Speaker at the Reading Show and will be speaking on Sunday June 5, 2016
WWII Weekend-Features & Schedule – Mid Atlantic Air Museum
6th Annual World War II at Graeme Park April 30th & May 1st 2016
Graeme Park WWII Weekend: Stories from the men and women who served, West Chester Swing Band/Dance and more.
WCHE Living History Radio Interview March 9, 2016
December 2, 2015 UNION LIBRARY COMPANY of HATBORO presents WAR STORIES SPEAKER SERIES
FIRST HAND ACCOUNTS OF AMERICANS AT WAR
******************
Come hear experiences of our neighbors
who have served our country !
Mr. David J. Lemal
Wednesday, December 2, 2015
7 PM
Location: Lehman Methodist Church, 300 S. York Road, Hatboro David J. Lemal Dec 2 2015
SOLDIERS’ CHRISTMAS At Graeme Park Saturday November 28, 2015 11-4 Free Admission. See how soldiers celebrated the holidays on the battlefront during different eras and different wars (Revolutionary War, Civil War, WWI, WWII) Crafts for Sale * Visit with Santa – 12-3 * Musical Entertainment * Refreshments Available * Collection for Active Military Serving Overseas www.graemepark.org
Charlene Briggs will be there with Letters to Lida. 10% LETTERS TO LIDA SALES ARE DONATED TO VETS JOURNEY HOME TO SUPPORT VETERANS WITH PTSD.
Letters to Lida is available to buy online at the following booksellers.
A limited edition paperback autographed by Staff Sergeant David Lemal
A limited edition hardcover autographed by Staff Sergeant David Lemal
Follow Letters to Lida on Facebook!
© 2015 Charlene Briggs