The 34th President of the United States and the Supreme Commander of the Allied Forces in Europe during World War II, Dwight D. Eisenhower was born in Denison on October 14, 1890. Denison’s Mayor Jared Johnson invites everyone to the 125th Eisenhower Birthday Celebration October 9-10, 2015.
The annual event kicks off on Friday, October 9 at 4:00 p.m. at North Texas Regional Airport. The Liberty Jump Team, a non-profit organization that performs at air shows throughout the United States and Europe, will parachute from a C-47 after a flight line demonstration. Visitors are encouraged to enter next to the terminal building.
The World War II C-47 from the Cavanaugh Museum of Flight in Addison, Texas, will carry the troops. The Liberty Jump Team are static line paratroopers and are pleased to be back opening the Eisenhower Birthday Weekend Celebration in Denison. The Liberty Jump Team will also have a static display on Main Street Saturday for this Celebration. Visitors can actually try on a parachute the team wears.
Red River Railroad Museum will have a Wall of Honor featuring photographs of area Veterans and Service Members. A special panel commemorates those killed in action. The organizing committee hopes this wall depicts the great respect we all have for the men and women who have served our country. This exhibit will be open throughout October during the normal operating hours of the museum. Entrance is trackside.
The Perrin Air Force Base Museum will features Veterans on staff including those from WWII. Visit with these special men and hear their stories. In addition, warbirds are scheduled to be on display at the North Texas Regional Airport on Saturday.
The I Like Ike 5K will begin at the birthplace on Saturday morning. Runners can sign up on Active.com now or on-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m. The race begins at 8:30 a.m. A fun run will be held, and everyone is encouraged to come out early to see the reenactors’ encampments.
The annual dedication of new bricks at the Eisenhower Veterans Monument will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at the monument at Loy Park on HWY 75. If raining for the dedication ceremony, the event will be moved to the Eisenhower Auditorium.
Ed Perez, Director of Federal Relations with the Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial Commission, will be performing the dedication for the new bricks. Perez previously served U.S. Representative Kevin Brady of Texas as Deputy Chief of Staff. A seventh generation Texan, Ed grew up in Corpus Christi and received his Bachelors and Masters degrees from the University of Texas at Austin. Previously, Ed was appointed in 2001 by Governor Rick Perry and was confirmed by the Texas State Senate to serve as the executive director of the Texas Office of State-Federal Relations. He led Texas’ DC office pursuing the State’s federal legislative agenda for ten years (2001 -2011). After his tenure with the State of Texas, Ed was a government relations consultant in the private sector. Ed has also worked in the economic and community development fields at the state, county and city levels of government. Ed lives in Alexandria, Virginia with his wife and two children.
The Texas Military Historical Society will be bringing both Allied and Axis forces to the Birthplace. These reenactors will be in period dress and will bring support personnel to their encampments. They will be joined by a parachute packing demonstration by Liberty Jump Team, the Red River Valley Military Vehicles and Camp Howze Military Vehicles. The Grayson County Ham Radio operators will also be at the birthplace along with other activities including children’s crafts.
Eisenhower Birthday Celebration
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday, October 9, 2015
School History Day
NORTH TEXAS REGIONAL AIRPORT – 4700 Airport Dr, Denison
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Perrin Air Force Base Museum Open
4:00 p.m. Arrival of C-47
5:00 p.m. Pre-Flight Check for Liberty Jump Team
6:00 p.m. Liberty Jump Team Paratroopers Demonstration
Saturday, October 10, 2015
EISENHOWER BIRTHPLACE – 609 Lamar Ave, Denison
*FREE PARKING at Main & Houston: TAPS Shuttle running continuous routes from 7-4 –Parking at Main & Houston (in front of Katy Depot/Red River Railroad Museum) to Birthplace with stops at Perrin Air Force Base Museum, & the Terminal Building at the World Aerobatics Competition*
7:30 a.m. Registration for I Like Ike 5K & Fun Run at Birthplace
8:30 a.m. I Like Ike 5K & Fun Run Begins at Birthplace
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Eisenhower Birthday Celebration
1:00 p.m. Birthday Cake
1:30 p.m. Eisenhower Memorial Overview
2:00 p.m. WWII Weapons Demonstration
RED RIVER RAILROAD M– USEUM – 101 E Main St #145, Denison (enter trackside)
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Museum and Wall of Honor
EISENHOWER MONUMENT – Hwy 75 at N. Loy Lake (exit 67)
10:30 a.m. Dedication Ceremony of New Bricks
Partners:
Eisenhower Birthplace, 609 S. Lamar, Denison, TX
Phone 903-465-8908 Visitor Center & Free Tours
Red River Railroad Museum, 101 E. Main Street, Suite 145, Denison, TX
Phone 903-463-5289 Admission Free (Donations Accepted)
Perrin Air Force Base Museum, 436 McCullum, Denison, TX
Phone 903-786-8741 Admission Free (Donations Accepted)
Kidz Krew Performing Arts next production will be Alice in Wonderland: Rise of the Cards. Presented in conjunction with the Bonham Theater, there will be three performances, October 2, 3 and 4, 2015 at the Bonham Auditorium on Main Street.
