Historical Reenacting

Okay, I used to be a reenactor. I'll fess up to that right now. Did Civil War reenacting from junior high school to post high school days. Did a little French and Indian War mixed in with that. Seriously considered dropping a significant amount of 1970's era currency to do Revolutionary War reenacting. (You cannot conceive of just how badly I wanted to take the King's shilling and enlist in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. It was the red coat and the cool hat. See Image Below!)

The Royal Welsh Fusiliers

Then I went into the Air Force. Where I got to wear uniforms and get paid to do so. Rather than me doing the paying to wear a uniform.

While in the Air Force, I did some World War II reenacting. That was expensive, but my Air Force pay covered it nicely. Though the Missus Herself thought I had a large number of loose screws for wanting to do this, it did, as she said "get me out of the house and into the fresh air."

So what caused a relatively well-adjusted lad to want to continue to "play army" long after elementary school? In a word: it was fun!

Re-enacting is expensive. Uniforms, equipment and weapon(s) can run into the thousands of dollars, depending on the type of re-enacting one wishes to pursue. Some of the World War II re-enacting units actually have tanks. Real-live "need gas and maintenance but look awesome rumbling about the countryside" tanks.

I often wonder how some Congress-critters sleep at night, knowing that somewhere out there is a civilian organization, chock full of red-blooded Americans, with actual armored fighting vehicles. Not many of them, true, (and they're old) but armored fighting vehicles nevertheless. Much more potent than anything your average county sheriff can muster. I rather hope it keeps some liberals awake at night.

So expect to see some re-enacting tales in these spaces in the future. Though I did introduce this particular topic back in June of 2012, now that I think about it. I have many more stories to tell. The mournful mutter of musketry and things that go "boom".

I have seen a man get blown from a horse by a smooth-bore cannon (he survived). I've also seen the organizers of a Civil War re-enactment have to step in to prevent actual bloodshed during a "battle". But I've never seen "attack ships on fire off the shoulder of Orion." (Movie reference there, 20 Shrute bucks to anyone who can identify the movie.)

So expect more but for now some photographs which give you an idea of the authenticity we re-enactors strive for. (And an idea of just how much money we spend to get that authentic look. And I'm not talking Shrute bucks here!)

American Re-Enactors, First Infantry Division

German Re-Enactors
(Yes, that's an authentic German 75mm Anti-Tank Gun behind them.)

Now the following pictures I'll let you decide, re-enactors or the real thing? Evidence to support your answer is required. Otherwise, no Shrute bucks for you!