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2022 Currahee Military Weekend Events

Stephens County Historical Society
News & Updates
Currahee Military Museum
160 North Alexander Street, Toccoa Georgia 30544 706-282-5055 contact@toccoahistory.com
Email for More Information

The Girl Who Wore Freedom

September 29th at 7:00PM

Historic Ritz Theater in Downtown Toccoa 

139 East Doyle Street, Toccoa 



The film, Girl Who Wore Freedom, will kick off 2022 Currahee Military Weekend this year! 


Film producer Christain J. Talyor of Wheaton, Illinios will be in Toccoa to share what she saw and experienced during D-Day Ceremonies and events in Normandy, France. 


When Christian Taylor followed her son, Sgt. Hunter Taylor of the U.S. Army 101st Airborne Division, to an annual D-Day ceremony in Normandy, France, she felt as if she landed in the middle of the most patriotic, flag-waving, Main Street America, Fourth of July parade ever.

Hundreds, maybe thousands, of people – mostly French and many dressed as civilians or GIs from the 1940s – filled the streets. They crowded around modern-day American soldiers and World War II veterans who had been part of the D-Day liberation of Normandy. A French civilian approached Sgt. Taylor thanked him for his service and asked for a photograph. Christian was amazed – why was this happening?

Danielle “Dany” Patrix Boucherie, a childhood survivor of D-Day, explained. She introduced Christian to other survivors and families of survivors, who shared personal stories about the occupation and liberation. Their stories underscored the damage caused by occupation and gave new definition to the idea of freedom requiring sacrifice.

Dany became THE GIRL WHO WORE FREEDOM when her mother made her a red, white, and blue dress from parachutes, which she wore to honor Allied forces at the first D-Day commemoration. Then, as now, her personification of gratitude towards the soldiers who liberated her community keeps the memories alive through annual D-Day celebrations and personal relationships.

THE GIRL WHO WORE FREEDOM reminds Americans and the world of America at her best: when she values people over politics, seeks to right the wrongs of injustice, and sacrifices, when necessary, so others might be free. The film is a timely reminder to do as the French say – “Never forget.” Never forget what we can be when we are true to our deepest values.


The film is currently being shown on all domestic and international Delta Airline flights around the world. Won't be flying in the near future? Our Board of Directors and volunteers hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to experience the story during Currahee Military Weekend this year. 


Adults Tickets:  The Girl Who Wore Freedom Adult Ticket $10 — Currahee (squarespace.com)


Students or child tickets:  The Girl Who Wore Freedom Student or Child — Currahee (squarespace.com)


Please, remember to bring your online payment receipt with you as proof of purchase.  

Tickets will also be available for purchase in the museum gift shop starting September 1st. 


Host Stephens County Historical Society 

706-282-5055    contact@toccoahistory.com


See the attached Currahee Military Weekend Registration Form for more information about the events and registration.


2022 Currahee Military Weekend Registration Form


CMW September 29th, 30th and October 1st and 2nd 

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WWII & More on Paper

Friday September 30th 

1pm to 5pm 

Mitchell Hall at Currahee Military Museum


Fiction, Non-Fiction, Artist Work will be available, please call for information. 706-282-5055

This event is open to registered guest and the public. 


Saturday Veterans Parade 1pm 


Reenactment after parade downtown on Doyle Street

Living Historians all day Friday and Saturday on Courthouse Square.


All Veterans, Active or Retired, All Public Service Personnel, Churches, Schools, Organization are welcome to enter parade.  Come show your support for all those that serve for our country's safety. All groups that support our welcome to participate 


If you or your favorite Military or Public Safety family member or friend cannot attend or has passed away, you can still publicly show your support with "Time to Shine" posters. See attached link for more information. contact@toccoahistory.com for more information.

Time to Shine Poster Information

September 29th, 30th October 1st, 2nd, 2022



Saturday Banquet 6:30pm 

Camp Toccoa at Currahee Pavillion, Ayersville Road Toccoa

Guest Speakers

                                                       

Chris Anderson is the first to present and offer his help to obtain the stable to members of Historical Society October 2002. Then as they say the rest is now history. 


Anderson is a historian who is well versed in many aspects of American history with special expertise in the Normandy Invasion, Band of Brothers, and 101st Airborne as well as the American Revolution. As the former editor of WWII Magazine, he edited and wrote about all areas of the U.S. involvement in that war. Chris was also one of the original creators of the Stephen Ambrose Band of Brothers® Tour and was a personal confidant of Major Dick Winters, commander of Easy Company, as well as many other veterans of WWII. Chris is the co-host of the History Happy Hour livestream. He lives in London, where he chronicles his visits to the places where history happened and the fascinating people he meets along the way in his blog, History Hikes


Chris and family of Boston Massachusetts, now resides in London England. Chris is most found doing research for current and new tours or out in a field followed by a group of 30 or so people all across England and Europe. 


Ambrose Tours, "Band of Brothers", begins here in Toccoa before leaving England. Having been here countless times over the years we are excited to have him back for the 100th Birthday of the stable he helped promote to get here in the museum.  

Stephen Sowerby of Aldbourne England original home of the British stable non on exhibit in Currahee Military Museum.


Stephen is one of a four-man team to help dismantle and prepare the cargo to be shipped to America. The final task was to come to Toccoa in September 2005 to reassemble the stable. 


Since Stephen and his father, Keith both live in Albourne they were very familiar the history of 101st Airborne that was billeted to their area before and after D-Day.  They also knew the current owner of the building at the time, Mike Steadman. After learning Steadman's intentions of relocating the stables to another location in England unsuccessfully, Keith thought it should come to Toccoa. 


Stephen is a city and guilds trained cabinet maker, so he has experience in working wood. But this was a much larger job and a labor of love for Stephen and his father, Keith.


Tim Greene and Sam McCallum, owners of Hartwood Oak Buildings in Newbury, Berkshire were recruited to help along with their building experience and equipment they were able to complete the task while the Historical Society was busy preparing and building a new 6000 sq ft building to house it in Toccoa.  


Currently you will find Stephen building and restoration of veteran vintage and classic car woodwork. 


Sowerby states, "It will be an honor to attend the 100th birthday of the stable and to remember my father, Keith Sowerby, and his belief in moving the stables to Toccoa.". 


The Historical Society is honored to welcome all of the volunteers that shared responsibility in bringing this project to a successful end.