Spanish-American War to take center stage in San Pedro military re-enactment weekend

By Donna Littlejohn

donna.littlejohn@dailybreeze.com @donnalittlejohn on Twitter

Renaissance re-enactors march during the Old Fort MacArthur Days at Angels Gate Park in San Pedro in July 2012. File photo. (Submitted photo)

It was 115 years ago that America first exerted its power on the world stage.

As wars go, the Spanish-American War -- America's first overseas war that pitted the United States against Spain amid Cuba's push for independence -- doesn't get a lot of attention these days.

But the 1889-'99 conflict will get a special anniversary shout-out Saturday and July 14 at the two-day Old Fort MacArthur Days in which wars from the past are re-enacted.

Along with the Spanish-American War re-enactors, the weekend event at Angels Gate Park, 3601 S. Gaffey St., in San Pedro, will offer displays with hundreds of living history performers representing eras and wars from the Roman legions through Vietnam.

Battle re-enactments and equipment demonstrations -- including mock sword, canon and rifle fights -- take place both days. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and tickets are $10 (each day) at the gate. Visit ftmac.org/.

The annual event has become one of the museum's biggest fundraisers.

Actor Michael Cawelti will be on hand impersonating Theodore Roosevelt who resigned his post as secretary of the Navy to join the military on behalf of the cause.

The largely volunteer calvary members -- dubbed the Rough Riders -- were a diverse group of

men who included Ivy League school students, gunfighters, Mexican-Americans and Native Americans.

"It lasted 30 days and really ended up, accidentally, being America's stepping-out point onto the world stage," said Joe Janesic, vice president of the Fort MacArthur Museum board of directors.

"The war ended up giving the U.S. possession of the Philippines and several of our other Pacific islands," he said.

The war had a ripple effect that was felt across the 20th century, he said, leading to the eventual development of the Panama Canal.

Roosevelt was given the Congressional Medal of Honor for his service in the war. He later became the nation's 26th president (1901-'09).

The weekend event has been staged by the Fort MacArthur Museum for more than 20 years, becoming "the West's largest multicultural celebration of world military history," according to the museum's website.

It began in 1987 when the museum put on a daylong event to demonstrate some of its antique canons and rifles.

This year's event will feature 750 performers, Janesic said, adding that it also draws 1,500 to 2,000 spectators each day.

Participants set up camps designed to demonstrate what life was like for soldiers during the various time periods represented.

Source: http://www.dailybreeze.com/news/ci_23610692/spanish-american-war-take-center-stage-san-pedro?source=rss

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