Although time travel doesn’t exist, Jefferson County residents experienced the next best thing at the 2026 World War II Weekend Living History event Oct. 16-18.
The event was held at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, 10349 Business 21, in Hillsboro.
Nonprofit U.S. 2nd Rangers Infantry Battalion of St. Louis organized the event, which included staged World War II military camps and battles from the European theater.
Dan Dexter, president of the 2nd Rangers Infantry Battalion, said more than 2,000 people attended across both days.
“It went great,” he said. “Beautiful weather, little rain on Friday, but Saturday and Sunday, (it) was great.”
A canteen dance was held in the fairgrounds building on Oct. 17.
The Gateway City Big Band, a 17-piece jazz band, performed at the dance.
Dexter said the dance “went really well.”
“We actually ended up having to put out a few extra tables,” he said.
Dexter also said the reenactors had a good time at the dance.
“They really enjoy the canteen dance and getting a break from camp life,” he said. “Some dance, some don’t, they just like to hang out.”
The next generation
The weekend kicked off with several school groups from Jefferson County and beyond receiving historical presentations on what troops on both sides faced during the war.
Dexter said more than 1,100 students came to the fairgrounds on Oct. 16.
Mary Stephenson and Sharon Luster, social studies teachers at Hillsboro Junior High, brought students from their military appreciation class to the fairgrounds.
The elective course is made up of seventh and eighth graders, Stephenson said.
She said students from the class come out to the event on a field trip every year.
“One of the things that we teach in our curriculum for this class are the different conflicts and wars the United States has been a part of,” Stephenson said. “This is awesome because we talk about World War I and World War II, which we’ve only just started doing, it just brings it to life for them, and they can see that and have that hands-on experience.”
Camden Moore, a seventh grader in the class, said it was his first time at the event.
“We’ve really been learning a lot about (World War II) since school started,” he said. “I think it’s really awesome how they do all this and the story behind it.”
“I was a little surprised by how nice all these vehicles were restored, and how well everything was presented,” said Tanner Martz, an eighth grader in the class.
Nick Berring, 51, of Affton portrayed an Allied sergeant at the event.
Berring, who has been a reenactor since 2003, said students are often curious to know if the reenactors served in the war themselves.
“Obviously that’s a little entertaining because none of us are that old, those guys are 100 years old now if they survived,” he said.
Berring also said students are very interested in the day-to-day life and the story of a soldier.
“We are a living and breathing tribute to those men and women who fought in the second World War, we wear their uniforms, we try to speak their speak and talk about their missions and the things they did. That’s what really brings the kids out is to learn about the soldier almost more than learning about the war in general.”
Brian Stacks, 68, of Moro, Ill., also portrayed a member of the Allies.
Stacks said he got into reenacting because his father served in the Pacific during the war and he inherited his memorabilia.
Stacks also said it’s important to continue to teach future generations about World War II.
“It was probably the biggest event in the world in world history as far as that goes,” he said. “Over time, you’ll get less of it in school, and there are very few veterans left that can talk about it firsthand. We’re just trying to pass that down, so it doesn’t get lost.”
Jackson Malusky, 17, of Festus is a part of the next generation that’s keeping this history alive.
He portrayed a soldier from the German Army’s 38th Infantry Division during the weekend.
Malusky began reenacting a year ago.
He said he’s a part of a group of “wonderful” men that teach the public what it was like to be a common soldier.
Looking ahead
This year marks the third year for the World War II Weekend Living History event to be held in Jefferson County. It was established in the 1970s and was previously held at Jefferson Barracks Park in St. Louis County. The event is held during the third weekend of October.
Dexter said the organization will go over the pros and cons of this year’s event and start planning for next year’s event in the coming weeks.
For more information, visit the U.S. 2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion of St. Louis Inc. Facebook page.
