March Through Time exhibit offers unique perspective for Veterans Day
COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Veterans Day, Nov. 11, started in 1918 and was originally known as Armistice Day to celebrate those who fought in World War I.
The name was officially changed in 1954 to Veterans Day to celebrate those who fought and served in the U.S. military during wartime and peace.
In observance of the holiday, the Ohio History Connection offers a unique perspective on war and what veterans went through during battle in different periods.
"I want them to see how different life used to be, how much harder people had it, and how horrendous and the terrible cost that war causes,” Marcia King, a long-time Ohio History Connection volunteer, said. “For example, with the Civil War, there were more people lost in the Civil War than World War I, II, and Korea combined.”
King has been volunteering as an educator and re-enactment actor at the Ohio History Connection for 36 years. She's volunteering during the center's March Through Time exhibits to explain what life was like for a Civil War soldier in the 1860s.
"Everything a Civil War soldier would carry with them, as well as mostly what they wore,” King said. “From explaining what undergarments they wore, which was a one-piece union suit to a wool hat, coat and pants. If they were lucky enough to have extra clothing, like extra socks or an extra shirt, they would carry that with them. They would carry half of a tent so when they were camping out at night if it was cold or if it was wet, they would pair up with a friend and make a little pup tent.
"Most of their personal belongings, they carried in a haversack,” King continued. “Both of these items were made of canvas, and they were covered with tar to make them waterproof. Things like a tin plate, a tin cup. They would have a utensil that had a spoon and a fork in it so that they would have things to eat with, as well as a pocketknife. Frequently soldiers would have a small Bible or some other religious material with them to be able to read and comfort themselves because obviously, being in war, you need that.”
King shares her knowledge of history with crowds at re-enactments and at the History Connection. She hopes visitors can get a look at not only how soldiers lived, but the mindset they may have had, the challenges their families faced, and even the quality of the food they had to eat.
She proudly displayed hardtack, which is described as a dense cracker.
"It's flour and water, very thick cracker, and it's very unpalatable, no flavor to it at all; very hard but it was one of their main food sources,” King said. “Not much nutrition, but at least it was food in their bellies.
"They also carried decks of cards, so that they could have something to keep them occupied sometimes in the evening," she added.
However, some of the items, like a soldier’s main weapon or an amputation knife, aren’t easy to explain to younger visitors.
"Then, of course, there's the bayonet, which causes horrendous wounds, but if you stick it down in the ground at night, you can use it as a candle holder," King said.
In addition to learning about Civil War soldier's gear, there are several scheduled re-enactments and other exhibits for visitors to learn about U.S. military history and veterans’ experiences over different periods.
The March Through Time exhibits are open at the Ohio History Center during the week and special presentations are scheduled for Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 16 and 17.
The National Veterans Memorial and Museum is also hosting a Veterans Day Ceremony at 11 a.m.
Other Veterans Day events include:
- City of Dublin, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Grounds of Remembrance in Dublin Veterans Park
- City of Gahanna, 11 a.m. at Gahanna Veterans Memorial
- City of Westerville, 8:30 – 10 a.m., veterans breakfast at Renaissance Westerville Hotel
- Grove City, 11 a.m., Town Center Park