Currahee Military Weekend 2018
October is upon us and the City of Toccoa celebrates its vast military history this weekend. October 4th through 7th is Currahee Military Weekend – four days of history, remembrance, World War II displays, and military re-enactments.
In 1942, the U.S. government acquired a site in Toccoa, Georgia, where a new type of soldier – the paratrooper – would be trained. 18,000 soldiers of the 501st, 506th, 511th, and 517th Paratroop Infantry Regiment trained at Camp Toccoa at Currahee during World War II.
This event started in 2001 as a reunion for the men who trained at Camp Toccoa during World War II. The weekend has grown to a community event open to the Veterans, their families and all who share interest in Camp Toccoa and World War II history. Hundreds of visitors crowd Toccoa’s downtown district for the annual parade and displays, and many more visit the historic museum and other events. The Currahee Military Weekend features World War II military reenactments in a staged military camp, weapons demonstrations, book signings by veterans, a USO-style dance, and a special banquet featuring key note speakers and veterans. A highlight of the weekend is a six-mile race along the Colonel Sink Trail, the same trail used by the paratroopers as part of their training for combat. The common refrain is "Three Miles Up and Three Miles Down."
Meet some of the paratroopers who trained at Camp Toccoa and listen to their stories; visit the Currahee Military Museum and walk through the actual stable, (which housed the soldiers in Aldbourne, England).
The Currahee Military Weekend serves to honor the veterans who trained at Camp Toccoa and to celebrate their commitment to America. This is a community-wide collaboration and celebration of Toccoa’s rich military history. For more information, please contact the Currahee Military Museum at 706-282-5055 or the Toccoa-Stephens County Chamber of Commerce at 706-886-2132.
