'To Forget Their Sacrifices Would Be Unthinkable'

The Higgins boats sway back and forth amongst the turbulent waves. Troops, lined up in two rows, are showered in sea water, which sprays over the metallic sides of the boat. Gunfire rumbles in the distance. The commanding officer shouts orders over the roars of artillery hitting the beach.

It's a warm sunny day in August 2025, but for hundreds of re-enactors, including VFW members, it is June 6, 1944, the day the largest amphibious invasion in human history took place, forever changing the course of history.

Since 1999, D-Day Conneaut has become the largest WWII re-enactment event in the country, drawing in as many as 45,000 spectators each year. The event is held at Conneaut Township Park in Conneaut, Ohio, along the shores of Lake Erie. The park's beaches create the perfect setting for replicating the amphibious landing of the Allied Forces.

The nearly 1,500 volunteer re-enactors have at their disposal period-accurate weapons, clothing, combat resources and vehicles, including Higgins boats and WWII-era tanks, which are provided by collectors of WWII-era artifacts. Re-enactors are even trained in WWII-era speech and have their hair cut similarly to the U.S. troops of 1944.

D-Day Conneaut stresses the importance of keeping the re-enactment as accurate as possible. Re-enactors can choose which faction to be a part of, including U.S. forces, members of the French resistance, civilians and even German forces. They are forbidden to break character and must envision themselves in the heat of battle, with a sense of "real" danger being present at every moment.

The event lasts for three days and is held each year in August. After having attended in 2022, VFW Post 3767 Commander Joseph Warminski became intrigued to the idea of recruiting members of his Post to participate.

Warminski, along with Post Senior Vice Commander Brent Herzberger, Junior Vice Commander Rob Kelley and Post Quartermaster Daniel Barninger, now regularly participate in D-Day Conneaut. As former service members, and as members of VFW, the Post officers bring a certain readiness and knowledge to the scene, helping reign in a stronger sense of authenticity.

"I feel (VFW) adds to the intent of D-Day Conneaut, that is, to ensure we are doing things as authentic as possible," Herzberger said. "All VFW members of course have served and been deployed into combat zones. I feel that gives us a tie to these men and this period of WWII that we are portraying to the general public."

Post 3767 officers are a part of Dog Company, 5th Ranger Batallion, which is an "impression," or chosen faction, of D-Day Conneaut, according to Herzberger.

PREPARING FOR BATTLE
Before the event begins, re-enactors are asked to attend a "basic training" weekend. Here, they become familiarized with their uniforms, get to practice weapon handling, get an insight into WWII tactics and even learn about courtesies of the era.

"Prior to and during the event, we live in tents for a total of about four or five days," Warminski said. "We even listen to 1940s music to help us get accustomed."

A beach landing occurs on each of the three days, in which re-enactors are piled onto Higgins and fully amphibious DUKW boats and sent out into Lake Erie.

Spectators gather a safe distance away from the action as the boats roar onto the beach, and troops begin to rush toward their objective. A "firefight" breaks out, as the Allied forces begin their push to neutralize the impending German forces. No real bullets or artillery are ever fired; however, re-enactors are handling real WWII-era weaponry.

B-52 Mustang airplanes and paratroopers also are showcased at the event as a remembrance of those who left their impact on D-Day through a command of the skies.

HONORING LEGACY, PRESERVING HISTORY
Herzberger and Warminski stressed how enactment events such as D-Day Conneaut help preserve the legacy of those who gave everything on June 6, 1944. They say they are honored to participate.

"D-Day was the largest amphibious invasion in history," Herzberger said. "If it wasn't for the bravery and sacrifices of those men on that beach, we would never have had the strong foothold we needed to push back the German forces and ultimately liberate Europe. To forget their sacrifices would be unthinkable."

D-Day Conneaut is just one of many re-enactment events that Post 3767 members attend.

"In addition to D-Day Conneaut, (the Post officers) and I also attend several other events over the year that allow us to showcase WWII battle scenarios," Herzberger said. "It is definitely a hobby that is geared toward preserving military history and keeping the memory of that generation alive to our younger crowd."

Herzberger believes that it is important for VFW to be involved in acts of remembrance such as D-Day Conneaut.

"It is in the charter we recite every meeting that the purpose of our organization is historical, educational, as well as a duty to perpetuate the memory of our dead," Herzberger said. "These re-enactments are a perfect forum for us as VFW members to do that."

Post 3767 officials hope to see a growing trend of VFW members participating in re-enactment events, as not only does it honor the values of VFW, but it is also simply a fun and exhilarating experience that builds camaraderie.

This article is featured in the 2026 March/April issue of VFW magazine, and was written by Danny Cook, senior writer for VFW magazine.