Originally posted by Tom Mumby
Groups in the UK tend to have strict guidelines regarding children and the age that they can take part in full scale battles. I assume the same is for the US and elsewhere? In my regiment alone no-one of any age is permitted to fight until we have vetted them for 6 months. Immaturity stikes the adults too. We have accepted 16 year olds and rejected 25 year olds simply because they demonstrated a lack of maturity.
My son went to his first event at 2 weeks. He's five now and knows that open fires/weapons/sharps are no-no's. My concern is that in my experience people who have no kids of their own are the ones quickest to judge as to what they should and should not do, and I get the impression that Micheal and Ardennes have no children.
I have just started re-enacting WW2 Axis after years of another period, and have always had a serious interest in WW2. In the last year or so I have seen several attempts from British groups to 'blackball' Axis groups with HJ children. Why? I have spoken to Veterans from both sides who have no problem with this. Also, all german children from the age of ten between 1933 to 1945 were HJ/BDM, and in uniform every afternoon after school. So, to not have children in uniform is highly unauthentic. As it is The Second Battle Group and the Luftwaffe Historical Group both have children who have won recent awards at Beltring and Detling for 'Best Child Impression', portraying both HJ and BDM respectively.
I have heard people get very upset about seeing children re-enacting Axis, and when I press them to tell me why they never have a good reason, other than the common answer "I don't like it." If you are against it can you please clearly outline why. So far no-one has complained about the boy soldiers that some Russian re-enactment groups have. So why is that OK? Stopping children from being HJ/BDM is basically whitewashing the past and going into denial about history. It should be portrayed Warts and All so that we, and the future generations, can learn from it to prevent the same mistakes from happening again.
I am interested to see where this thread goes. So far you can spot the parents. The ones against children in re-enactment always talk about events as a weekend 'for boys only', away from the women and children. Well, I'm sorry to spoil your dream guys, but this is the 21st century. My son has already developed a deep interest in history, and I encourage as many as possible to join him in an age where many consider 'History is Bunk'.
As you can no doubt tell this subject gets my goat. I hope people understand where I am comming from. I will now put down my soapbox and step away to a safe distance.
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