Join Pamplin Historical Park as we offer multiple programs throughout the weekend, to include a Lunch and Learn on Friday, World War I living-history, demonstrations, displays, presentations, wargames and Pamplin Historical Park is offering free admission during Veterans Day weekend, Friday through Monday, November 8-11, to all active duty Military, Reservists, Retirees, Veterans, National Guardsmen.

A Lunch and Learn will be held on Friday, November 8 at noon titled “Researching and Designing a Historical Miniature” presentation with Ken Osen, Master Sculptor and Creative Director of the W. Britain Company. Attendees are invited to bring their own lunch, and at 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. a wide selection of W. Britain Company merchandise will be displayed and for sale featuring miniatures of America’s fighting men, women and vehicles from the American Revolution through the Korean War. W. Britain is the oldest maker of model figures and toy soldiers in the world, being founded in 1893. Originally made as glossy toys for children, they now also portray highly realistic adult collectables ranging from the times of Saxons and Normans up through World War II.

On Saturday, November 9, Mr. Osen will present “Reconstructing the Early American Army in Miniature” at 11:00 a.m. and the W. Britain display and sales will continue throughout the day. World War I living-historians will additionally be encamped at the park all day and at noon, Gunnery Sergeant Peter Keen, U.S.M.C. will present “Devil Dogs: The U.S. Marine in World War One.” Ken will explore the evolution of the of U.S. Marine Corps who experienced a new kind of fighting in France with modern weaponry, aircraft, and the horrors of gas and trench warfare. Out of approximately 4.7 million Americans who served in World War I, only about 70,000 were U.S. Marines who earned the nickname “Devil Dogs” from their German adversaries for their ferocity in battle.

The Chesapeake Military Society will host wargames starting at 1:00 p.m. where park visitors are invited to join in miniature historical battles to learn about the fighting techniques of the time portrayed. Modern wargaming can be traced back to Prussia in the early 19th-century, where the professional Prussian military adopted wargaming as a training exercise for their staff officers to develop doctrine, while applying strategy and tactics. After Prussia defeated France in the Franco-Prussian War, wargaming was seen as a successful training tool and widely adopted by professional military general staffs around the world. Civilian enthusiasts of all ages now play wargames to recreate historical battles, pursuing different outcomes or for recreation.

All visitors will have the opportunity to explore the 424-acre park to include the Breakthrough Battlefield which on April 2, 1865, resulted in the evacuation of both Petersburg and Richmond. A Civil War “Load in Nine Times ” rifle demonstration will take place at 10:00 a.m. on both Saturday and Sunday.

The free park admission during the Veterans Day weekend activities, Friday through Monday, November 8-11, includes all active duty Military, Reservists, Retirees, Veterans, National Guardsmen. This offer is only available to active duty Military, Reservists, Retirees, Veterans, National Guardsmen with proper ID, which includes a Department of Defense photo ID or DD Form 214. Military veterans who separated before retirement can bring a copy of their honorable discharge paperwork, DD Form 214, as identification of service.

All event activities and programs are included with regular daily paid admission. This event is held in partnership with The Bank of Southside Virginia and the W. Britain Company.