The Western Michigan White Pine Muster is an event paying tribute to those who have served in military action throughout our history. The Muster will have memorabilia, vendors, interpreters and/or veterans from Pre-1840, Civil War, WW I, WW II, Korean and Viet Nam. The Muster will feature skirmishes, cannon firings, live firing of weapons (flintlock, percussion, cannons, gatling gun, bolt action, Browning Automatic Rifle, Thompson, Garand-M-1, and AR 16), medical demonstrations, communications demonstrations, fashion show, and camp life interpretation.

On Saturday evening starting at 6:30 P.M. guests who have made reservations will assemble for a "Formal Banquet" at the 4-H Building at the Western Michigan Fairgrounds. This years banquet will have a WWII theme with the meal, music, and speaker all directed towards the 1940’s period of time. The banquet speaker will be Ernie Pyle, portrayed by Dr. Rick Plummer, Professor of Theater and Director of Cultural Arts at West Shore Community College. Ernie Pyle will be bringing his audience “dispatches from the front line”. America’s favorite newspaperman during WWII, Ernie Pyle served as a link between men at the front and their loved ones back home. He did not glorify war, but rather the simple heroism of the American GI who fought and was prepared to make the ultimate sacrifice.

The master of ceremony for the banquet will be Brigadier General Retired Axel Johnson of Ludington, who commanded at all levels in the United States Army Reserves from 1960 to 1993. We are privileged and honored to have Dr. Johnson be a part of our event.

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