Rochelle Pennington will present “World War I Christmas Miracle” at 6:30 p.m. Monday, July 15, at the Waupaca Area Public Library.
This program is part of Winchester Academy’s All-Stars series, in which previous speakers have been invited back to Waupaca by popular demand.
Pennington will discuss the factual account of the unofficial 1914 battlefield Christmas truce, remembered today as “the most extraordinary event in military history” and “the grand human moment.”
It happened on the Western Front in Europe during World War I.
Pennington’s program will detail the circumstances surrounding 100,000 enemy combatants who “met in the middle” on Christmas and halted a war.
She will draw from the written memories of soldiers who were there, as recorded in diaries, letters home and published newspaper articles.
Pennington will show vintage photographs, including those of soldiers exchanging gifts beside Christmas trees lit with candles on the battlefield.
Authentic World War I artifacts from the author’s personal collection will also be on display.
Author of The Historic Christmas Tree Ship, featured on national television, and Christmas Gifts: Ten of the Greatest Ever Given, Pennington is a storyteller and lecturer.
Pennington’s program is free and open to the public. Cookies and coffee are served at 6:00 p.m. and the program begins promptly at 6:30.
Winchester Academy expenses are funded through sponsors and tax-deductible donations.
Pennington’s program is sponsored by Bob and Anita Olson, Barry and Ruby Shaw, and T-Dubs Public House.
For more information about Winchester Academy, go to winchesteracademywaupaca.org, follow the group on Facebook, or contact Executive Director Ann Buerger Linden at 715-258-2927 or [email protected].