Discovery Park To Host Military History, Armed Forces Symposium This Weekend

All active military personnel and veterans will receive free admission to Discovery Park during all three days of this event.

Union City, Tenn.–This weekend will be a special one at Discovery Park of America in Union City, with a three-day Military History and Armed Forces symposium set April 23-25. All active military personnel and veterans will receive free admission to Discovery Park during all three days.

This three-day event features a variety of programs and interactive activities that will interest the entire family. Enjoy a weekend that explores the past, present and future of the military.

 

Guests will experience:

• Reenactors sharing stories from the history of the military
• Military vehicles and equipment on display
• A pop-up exhibit of portraits by early photographer Mathew Brady
• Authors with books on military-related topics
• Experts on a variety of topics relevant to the past, present and future of the military
• Gallery talks with Discovery Park educators
• Keynote presentation from Lt. Gen. John G. Castellaw, U.S.M.C. Retired
• Live drone technology demonstrations
• Members-only reception with Operation Song on Fri., April 23

Three impressive events have been added to the schedule for the Military History and Armed Forces Symposium April 23-25, 2021. At 1 p.m. on Sun., April 25, Maj. Gen. Maloan will lead a panel discussion with members of the 194th Engineer Brigade who recently returned from a tour of duty in Kuwait then served in Washington, D.C. where they provided support during President Biden’s inauguration.

Also added will be a video produced by the U. S. Space Force for our younger visitors and the opportunity on Saturday at 10:30 a.m. to experience the dramatic arrival of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, the U.S. Army’s primary medium-lift utility transport and air assault aircraft.

Other unique events during this three-day event explore the past, present and future of the military and include:

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Programs are subject to change.

FRI., APRIL 23, 2021

All day (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Experience reenactors, military displays and equipment from the past, present and future, and hear stories from the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, the War of 1812 and the Spanish-American War.

10:45 a.m. Gallery Talk with Gary Dudley: Civil War River Battles.

11:30 a.m. Gallery Talk with David Heathcott: Hiram Maxim and the Machine Gun.

1 p.m. Gallery Talk with Zach Rea: Mathew Brady, early photographer.

2 p.m. Women in the Military, panel led by Cmdr. Leanne Braddock, U.S. Navy Retired. Panelists include Cmdr. Becky Walthour, U.S. Coast Guard; Cmdr. Sheree T. Williams, U.S. Navy; Corp. Carrier Mercer, U.S. Marine Corps.

3 p.m. Gallery Talk with Gary Dudley: The WWII Homefront.

5 p.m. Members-only reception sponsored by Operation Song with a performance by members of Operation Song.

SAT., APRIL 24, 2021

All day (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Experience reenactors, military displays and equipment from the past, present and future, and hear stories from the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, the War of 1812 and the Spanish-American War.

10:30 a.m. UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter landing near STEM Landing

10:45 a.m. Dr. David Coffey, professor of history at the University of Tennessee at Martin, will discuss his latest book, In Harm’s Way: A History of the American Military Experience.

11:30 a.m. Live Recording of “Reelfoot Froward: A West Tennessee Podcast” with host Scott Williams and Dr. Timothy Smith, contributor to the recent History Channel production, “Grant”

1 p.m. Minorities in the Military, panel led by Col. Ardis Porter, U.S. Army Retired. Panelists include Dr. Adam Wilson and Col. Howard Thompson, U.S. Army Retired.

2 p.m. Go There: A Call to Bring Invisible Soldiers of Vietnam into View, panel led by Cynthia Kent, author of “Better Men: Alpha Upsilon in Vietnam”
Book signing to follow. Panelists include David Kent, songwriter and representative from Operation Song; 1st Lt. Thomas Raines, Vietnam veteran; 1st Ly. Bill Powell, Vietnam veteran; and Col. Ed Bevill, U.S. Army retired Vietnam veteran.

3:30 p.m. UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter takes off from STEM Landing

SUN., APRIL 25, 2021

All day (11 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Experience reenactors, military displays and equipment from the past, present and future, and hear stories from the Civil War, World War II, Vietnam, the War of 1812 and the Spanish-American War.

12 p.m. Gallery Talk with Zach Rea: 320th African American Anti-Aircraft Barrage Balloon Battalion.

1 p.m. “Tennessee National Guard: From Kuwait to Capitol Hill” panel of National Guardsmen who were deployed to Kuwait and then to secure the Capitol in January 2021. Panel led by retired Maj. Gen. William M. Maloan, Tennessee National Guard.

2 p.m. Keynote: National Security in the Age of Climate Change, Lt. Gen. John G. Castellaw, USMC Retired

3 p.m. Gallery Talk with David Heathcott: American Vietnam POW Secret Codes.

Special Tours of The Military Gallery at Discovery Park

Included is a collection of military vehicles and weapons, as well as displays about the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Cold War and our current military conflicts.

All programs associated with the event are included with park admission or membership.

This event is sponsored by Dixie Gun Works and Union City Coca-Cola.