America 250 WWII History Activities

Planned or Under Discussion

World War II Wilmington Home Front Heritage Coalition
Theme: Recognize and Promote Wilmington as America’s First WWII Heritage City
Updated: December 10, 2025

Key:
📅 = Firm or TBD date activity
🔁 = Ongoing activity

📅 Scheduled or Firm-Date Activities 2026

• April 5–12 during Azalea Festival – WWII warbirds fly in to Wilmington International Airport (ILM). Static displays, public rides. Details TBD.
• April 5–12 during Azalea Festival – N.C. National Guard 30^th Armored Brigade Combat Team, staging of troops, vehicles, equipment. Tentative site: 120^th Infantry HQ. Details TBD.
• April 6–8 – Veterans Forum: student veteran speakers, programs. Cape Fear Community College, Union Station Auditorium. Details TBD.
• April/May TBD – Visit by U.S. Coast Guard cutter to Wilmington port.
• April 25 – All hands area veterans jamboree: all day, services, all periods served. Veterans Hall quad, UNC Wilmington. Food, music, entertainment, organization booths, camaraderie.
• April TBD – Cape Fear Chorale program on WWII-era music.
• Date TBD – Wilmington Railroad Museum (Atlantic Coast Line RR headquarters) – Exhibits on wartime Atlantic Coast Line and the railroads.
• Date TBD – Install historical marker at Kure Beach noting German U-boat attack on Ethyl-Down chemical plant, July 1943.
• May 11 and 18 – Doubleheader Forum: WWII Wilmington history PowerPoint presentations, HBHUSO/CAC, noon to 1:15 pm.
• May 17 – “Rosie the Riveter: American Women in WWII” PowerPoint presentation; Rosie the Riveter solo actor performance; Rosie memorabilia exhibit, HBHUSO/CAC, 2:00 pm.
• May 31, November 9 – Wilmington port visits by American Cruise Lines – WWII programs in HBHUSO/CAC. Details TBD.
• Dates and details TBD – Wilmington Water Tours excursions, Cape Fear River – WWII history presentations on board.
• July 4 – Open house, HBHUSO/CAC, 12–4:00 pm.
• September/October TBD – WWII Weekend, Fort Fisher State Historic Site, re-enactors, uniforms, weapons, equipment, date/time TBA.
• November 6 – USO Show & Dance for Veterans Day weekend, HBHUSO/CAC, 7–10 pm.
• December 5 – HBHUSO/CAC 85^th anniversary, Wilmington Big Band free concert, 7:30–9:30 pm.
• December 7 – Annual commemoration of the attack on Pearl Harbor (the 84^th anniversary), HBHUSO/CAC, 1:25 pm.

Ongoing & Community Partner Activities

• 🔁 New Hanover County Schools & Cape Fear Academy – Participating in events and educational programs.
• 🔁 Fort Fisher State Historic Site – WWII re-enactors, equipment, vehicles, and weapons.
• 🔁 Hannah Block Historic USO / Community Arts Center
  • Lectures, commemorations, music, theater, and exhibits (e.g., Rosie the Riveter).
• 🔁 Battleship North Carolina
  • Memorial Day ceremony.
  • Living History programming, ship tours, and special events.
  • Collaboration with the Coalition.
• 🔁 Wilmington Railroad Museum
  • WWII exhibits focusing on the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad history.
• 🔁 NC Maritime Museum at Southport
  • Programs on the Wilmington shipyard and American women in WWII.
• 🔁 UNCW and CFCC Veteran Students
  • Events in coordination with Veterans Councils of New Hanover, Brunswick, and Pender counties.
  • Music department concerts.
  • Film studies video project.
• 🔁 New Hanover High School Alumni Association
  • Honoring WWII Medal of Honor graduates Charles Murray and Billy Halyburton.
  • Memorial to NHHS students who served and died.
• 🔁 WWII Authors, Historians, and Speakers
  • Compiled list of local experts.
  • Book signings and presentations.
• 🔁 Reprint and Distribute – Wilmington World War II Heritage Guide.
• 🔁 Lectures and PowerPoint Presentations – On Wilmington’s WWII history