Jeep Encampment
History will be brought to life at a turn of the key and hum of an engine.
The First Frontier Mechanized Cavalry, 28th division/1-110th RCT/K Company, the First of the 7th Cavalry, Vietnam-era re-enactors and the 99th Infantry division will present a World War II encampment that will feature more than 20 original Jeeps from the 1940s at the ninth annual Bantam Jeep Heritage Festival.
“They will be recreating what it looked like when you were a soldier in World War II,” said Patti Jo Lambert, festival director.
The group dresses in uniform, recreates a military camp and tells stories about their restored Jeeps.
Music from the 1940s will be the backdrop to re-enactors who will cook in the style of the '40s setup around military tents, she said.
There also will be a military-style obstacle course for kids.
The festival is about celebrating Butler, the birthplace of Jeep, through the re-enactment that highlights the historical role it played in the past and presenting its role today as a recreational vehicle, Lambert said.
Every year, the festival continues to be a staple because it grows in the amount of activities people can do with their Jeeps, she said.
Many people describe the festival as “Jeep heaven,” she said.
Jeeps are enjoyable for any age, Lambert said.
“Wether it's a child who likes to see Jeeps and watch them drive through the mud pit or someone who appreciates the Jeep's military heritage or someone who wants to challenge their Jeep's ability, we offer something to everyone who has any interest in the Jeep brand,” she said.Among the 15,000 attendees, there will be people who are interested in the Jeep's military heritage, people who love customizing their Jeeps with parts and accessories and off-roaders, Lambert said.“It's an opportunity to be with others who share the same passion,” she said.
