Fort Harrison State Park and the Museum of 20th Century Warfare will team up to host a demonstration of Vietnam-era military weapons on Saturday, March 27 at Building 704 near the Park Office from 2-3 p.m.
The program will feature some of the authentic weapons used by both the U.S. Army and the North Vietnamese during the Vietnam War. Visitors will watch vintage firearms operate as trained re-enactors fire blanks through each weapon.
Fort Harrison State Park was once Fort Benjamin Harrison, a U.S. Army Reservation during the Vietnam War. Soldiers were sent to the Fort for specialized training for a variety of schools that included nursing, communications, logistics and command. Thousands of soldiers were once stationed at the Fort during the Vietnam War.
The Museum of 20th Century Warfare is a non-for-profit organization dedicated to educating the public about the armed conflicts of the 20th century. The museum is also committed to honoring the veterans who served our country in the 20th century.
The re-enactors are civilians whose hobby is portraying soldiers. The re-enactors dress in authentic and/or reproduction uniforms that they have researched and acquired. They use actual Vietnam-era equipment and weapons to drill, exercise and simulate combat situations.
The weapons demonstration will be held outside rain or shine; attendees should dress for the weather. While there is no charge for the program, the normal weekend $5/in-state $7/out-of-state charge per vehicle applies. Fort Harrison State Park is on the corner of Post Rd. and 59th Street in Lawrence, on the northeast side of Indianapolis. For more information, please contact the park office at (317) 591-0904 or the park naturalist at (317) 591-0122, Wednesdays-Sundays, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
