Welcome to this March edition of our newsletter for 2009 events season.
As mentioned previously this year we will be focusing on ideas for events and shows to help commemorate the 65th anniversary of the D-Day landings.

Many organisers will be putting on 1940s style events with typical atmospheric music, dancing and costumes, but it will be a great opportunity missed if events don't attempt to tell some of the history the event is commemorating. Second world war airfields are scattered all over the UK, some in private hands, some owned by trusts or councils but where suitable any one would make an ideal backdrop on a summers evening for a great historical re-enactment display using the fading evening light and sound effects.

Some of the things that your D-Day event could include
1940s period dance marquee and jazz band.
Vintage military vehicles and (if possible) wartime aircraft.

Vintage civilian and emergency services vehicles.
1940s period civilian and military re-enactors.

Wartime memorabilia and bric a brac stalls.
Stalls selling military art, books, prints, collectables etc.  
Veterans marquee offering seated talks and collectables signings.
Children's street party with wartime foods, fancy dress and bunting.
Military bands, Territorial army and recruitment exhibits etc.

Finally finish off the event with an evening spectacular telling some of the stories of the D-Day landings perhaps the vital Airborne assault by the British and American paratroopers with the audience either sat down or standing on the main runway. The scene ideas below are of course dependant upon your resources and suitability but can easily be adapted for school children to re-enact or turned into a really spectacular ticket only visual shows with stage.
Scene one - War background
Sound effects could include air raid sirens, fire bells, spitfire engines, Chamberlains "we are at war" speech. Visual effects could include search lights, fire engines, bombing raid, effects on families re-enactments.
Scene two - The build up to D-Day
Sound effects could include tank tracks, marching soldiers, British, American, Canadian voices, music, marching and drill sounds. Visual effects could include American GI re-enactors, dancing and soldiers training.

Scene three - Final preparations
Sound effects could include C47 engines running, nervous chatter of troops, famous D-Day speeches by Churchill and Eisenhower. Visual effects could include paratrooper re-enactors preparing to go and doing final checks.
Scene four - Departure (as it starts to get dark)
Sound effects could include playing recordings of Dakota C47 engines, antiaircraft guns. Visual effects could include fireworks and search lights
Scene five - Landing on enemy soil
Sound effects could include gun fire and antiaircraft guns. Visual effects could include fireworks with silhouette of re-enactors in front of, parachutes on ground and search lights.
To finish up your event
End the event with a moving piece of music perhaps Hymn To The Fallen (Saving Private Ryan) composed by John Williams.