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D-Day 80th Anniversary Activities
The National Parks Service recently named Hastings, Nebraska a World War II Heritage City. This designation honors communities and their citizens who stepped into the workforce to support America’s war effort. Just one WWII Heritage City is designated in each state.
To celebrate this honor, three City of Hastings departments - the Hastings Municipal Airport, Hastings Museum and Hastings Public Library - have planned special activities to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day.
Thursday, June 6
D-Day: Normandy 1944 | Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 2 & 4 p.m. (43 mins) | Tickets: Child: $7 | Adult: $9 | Senior: $8
Author Talk: The Fight Against the Axis with Melissa Amateis
Hastings Public Library | FREE
Speaker: 5:15 p.m., Meeting Room AB
Friday, June 7
D-Day: Normandy 1944 | Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 2 & 4 p.m. (43 mins) | Tickets: Child: $7 | Adult: $9 | Senior: $8
Film & Speaker: Bunker University & UNK Professor Amber Alexander
Hastings Museums Theatre | Film: 7 p.m. (1hr 13 mins), followed by speaker | $8
Saturday, June 8
Airport Open House: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Military Aircraft & Vehicles on Display: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. The planes on display are courtesy of the American Flight Museum in Topeka, Kansas. The Types of planes will include T28, T6 & C47.
- Pancake Breakfast & Fly-In, 8-11 a.m. in the Brick Hanger. Freewill Offering, sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association
- Rededication of F4 Display, 11 a.m. Color Guard, National Anthem, Hastings Mayor Corey Stutte, Honoring Local Veterans
- Hamburger Feed 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Brick Hanger. Freewill Offering, sponsored by the Antique Airplane Association
D-Day: Normandy 1944 Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 2 & 4 p.m. (43 mins) Tickets: Child: $7 | Adult: $9 | Senior: $8
Saving Private Ryan (R) Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 5:15 p.m. (2 hrs 49 mins) | $5.50
Sunday, June 9
History on Foot-CCC, weather permitting | Freewill Offering | No RSVP needed
2-3 p.m., Central Community College | This is an outdoor walking tour.
D-Day: Normandy 1944 | Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 2 p.m. (43 mins) | Tickets: Child: $7 | Adult: $9 | Senior: $8
===================== Full descriptions ===========================
Thursday, June 6
D-Day: Normandy 1944
Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 2 & 4 p.m. (43 mins)
Details: The largest Allied operation of World War II began in Normandy, France. Yet few know in detail exactly why and how, from the end of 1943 through August 1944, this region became the most important location in the world. Blending multiple cinematographic techniques, including animation, CGI, and stunning live-action images, D-Day: Normandy 1944 brings this monumental event to the world's largest screens for the first time ever. Narrated by Tom Brokaw
Tickets: Child: $7 | Adult: $9 | Senior: $8
Author Talk: The Fight Against the Axis with Melissa Amateis
Hastings Public Library | FREE
Speaker: 5:15 p.m., Meeting Room AB
Details: The fight against the Axis powers required sacrifice and dedication--Nebraskans proudly answered the call. From army air fields to ordnance plants and scrap drives, author and historian Melissa Amateis shares the remarkable story of the Cornhusker State’s home from WWII. (home front WWII efforts???)
Friday, June 7
D-Day: Normandy 1944, description above
Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 2 & 4 p.m. (43 mins)
Tickets: Child: $7 | Adult: $9 | Senior: $8
Film & Speaker: Bunker University & UNK Professor Amber Alexander
Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 7 p.m. (1hr 13 mins), followed by speaker
About the Film: Central Community College's Hastings campus sits on a WWII Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD) and much of that history is captured in this informative documentary. Amazing interviews and local history. You'll learn how a war built Central Community College.
About the Speaker: Dr. Amber Alexander is an Assistant Professor of History Education in the Department of History at UNK. Her research interests include both Nebraska History and the World War II Home Front. She will add her expertise after Bunker University and take questions on the era and its defining issues.
Saturday, June 8
Airport Open House: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Military Aircraft & Vehicles on Display: 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. The planes on display are courtesy of the American Flight Museum in Topeka, Kansas. The Types of planes will include T28, T6 & C47.
- Pancake Breakfast & Fly-In, 8-11 a.m. in the Brick Hanger. Freewill Offering, sponsored by the Experimental Aircraft Association
- Rededication of F4 Display, 11 a.m.
- Color Guard
- National Anthem, Ava Bonifas
- Hastings Mayor Corey Stutte
- Honoring Local Veterans
- Hamburger Feed 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the Brick Hanger. Freewill Offering, sponsored by the Antique Airplane Association
D-Day: Normandy 1944 (Film description above)
Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 2 & 4 p.m. (43 mins)
Tickets: Child: $7 | Adult: $9 | Senior: $8
Saving Private Ryan (R)
Hastings Museums Theatre
Film at 6:15 p.m. (2 hrs 49 mins)
Details: Set in 1944 in France during World War II, Saving Private Ryan follows a group of soldiers, led by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks). Their mission is to locate Private James Francis Ryan (Matt Damon) and bring him home safely after his three brothers are killed in action. Originally released in 1998, the film won 5 Academy Awards.
Tickets: $5.50
Sunday, June 9
History on Foot-CCC, Central Community College
Walking Tour: 2-3 p.m., weather permitting (Meet on the east side of the Clay Building)
Central Community College-Hastings was once home to the administrative campus of the Naval Ammunition Depot (NAD). Hastings Museum tour guides will give you details about the function of each building when the depot was operational.
Freewill Offering | No RSVP needed
This is an outdoor walking tour. Plan to be on your feet!
D-Day: Normandy 1944
Hastings Museums Theatre
Film: 2 p.m. (43 mins)
Tickets: Child: $7 | Adult: $9 | Senior: $8
Published Date: 05/15/2024