"DOUGHBOY DAY" AT FORT JAY SATURDAY, SEPT 17

NEW YORK – There will be a host of World War I-related activities this
Saturday at NYC's Governors Island. A platoon of living history
reenactors will bring World War I Doughboys to Governors Island National
Monument on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2016, for a free exhibition. See
demonstrations and hear stories as reenactors portray famous New York
regiments, including the Harlem Hell Fighters, at Doughboy Day at Fort
Jay.

The centennial of American involvement in the “Great War” is in 2017
and this group of volunteer reenactors will share the story of U.S.
participation. Both men and women will be in full uniform and provide
displays and talks about the role America played in World War I. It is
free and suitable for all ages.

PARTICIPANTS: Long Island Living History Association
(facebook.com/longislandlivinghistoryassociation), military
historians whose main purpose is to educate the public on all wars
America has participated in; the Ebony Doughboys (ebonydoughboys.org)

a group of African American living historians who are focused on
telling the story of the outstanding record of service of African
Americans during the First World War; Mark D. Van Ells, author of
“America and World War I: A Traveler’s Guide.” Actress Laurie
Gaulke will represent women in the war with her show, “Doughnuts for
Doughboys: A Salvation Army Lassie in Neuvilly.”

The events are free, open to the public, and run 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM at
Governors Island National Monument. The displays will be on the Parade
Ground and talks in and outside Castle Williams.

"We are proud to be part of 'Doughboy Day' on Governors Island" said Dr.
Libby O'Connell, Chair of the World War I Centennial Committee for New
York City. "Events like this bring the diverse history of the Great War
alive for new generations. "

Colonel Robert J D'Alessandro (Ret.) Chairman of the U.S. World War I
Centennial Commission observed, "This upcoming living history event on
historic Governors Island will raise awareness of the innovations and
the sacrifice that characterized America's involvement in this 'War to
End All Wars'. I'm pleased that this commemoration will be part of the
annual observances during the centennial. "

Schedule:

10:00-4:00: Displays of vintage artifacts, equipment, uniforms, and
weapons. Parade Ground.

10:30: Opening remarks on Parade Ground.

11:00, 11:30, 12:00, 2:00, 3:30: “Eugene Bullard, America’s first
black fighter pilot” (actor Chadd Gray). Gazebo outside Castle
Williams.

11:30 AND 3:30: “Doughnuts for Doughboys: A Salvation Army Lassie in
Neuvilly” Castle Williams.

12:00: “Harlem Hell Fighters and the Black Doughboy experience.”
Stories of: Pvts. Jenkins Fennell and Lewis A. Taylor. Presented by the
Ebony Doughboys. Castle Williams.

12:30: Doughboy March from Parade Ground to Fort Jay and back to Castle
Williams.

2:00: “America and World War I: A Traveler’s Guide” author Mark D.
Van Ells. Castle Williams.

3:00: “Rediscovering the Doughboy Experience in WW1” artifacts
presentation, Randy Gaulke, WW1 Historical Association. Castle Williams.

4:00: Doughboy March from Castle Williams to Meuse-Argonne Point.

5:00: End of event

Getting There:

Governors Island is located in New York Harbor, 1/2 mile from the
southern tip of Lower Manhattan and 400 yards west of Brooklyn’s Red
Hook waterfront. Ferry service is provided from Battery Maritime
Building at 10 South Street on the corner of South and Whitehall Streets
(next to the Staten Island ferry terminal). Ferry service is provided
from Brooklyn Bridge Park’s Pier 6 at the end of Atlantic Avenue.
Commercial ferry service is provided by the East River Ferry and serves
several points on the East River. Ferries run every half hour. For a
ferry schedule: https://govisland.com/info/ferry

Supporting Organizations:

GOVERNORS ISLAND NATIONAL MONUMENT (nps.gov/gois) manages 22 acres
containing Fort Jay and Castle Williams. The U.S. National Park Service
provides education and historic interpretation of the island.

WORLD WAR ONE CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE FOR NEW YORK CITY (wwi100nyc.org)

is dedicated to planning, producing, and coordinating events and
activities commemorating the First World War in New York City and the
surrounding areas.

U.S. WORLD WAR ONE CENTENNIAL COMMISSION (worldwar1centennial.org)
was created by Congress in 2013 to provide public outreach, education
programs, and commemorative events for American involvement in World War
I. The Commission was also authorized to build the new National World
War I Memorial in Washington DC.

For more information please visit http://governorsislandguide.com/blog/