Echoes of Valor
A WWII Living History & Reenactment
April 16-18th 2027

General Admission: $5
Veterans: Free
April 16th Friday School Day - Students: Free
April 17th & 18th - Open to the Public

Echoes of Valor invites you to step into Mortain, France, during the summer of 1944. Throughout AuGlaize Village, occupied streets, military checkpoints, and Allied and German encampments create a living World War II setting. Soldiers stand watch, civilians navigate life under occupation, and troops prepare for the fighting ahead. History unfolds around you as you move through the village, with opportunities to speak with reenactors and encounter the stories behind the scenes.

Presented by AuGlaize Village and the Defiance County Historical Society, Echoes of Valor is led by WWII Director Trenton Coleman and Assistant Director Dan Younkin. Reenactors and volunteers bring the setting to life through authentic impressions, period equipment, daily camp activities, and coordinated historical scenarios. From conversations at a checkpoint to the sights and sounds of a battlefield reenactment, each part of the experience helps visitors understand the uncertainty, hardship, and humanity of wartime life.

The event is open to the public Friday through Sunday, with Friday placing a special emphasis on school groups and educational experiences. Throughout the weekend, visitors are encouraged to explore the camps, ask questions, and engage with reenactors portraying soldiers, medics, and civilians. Education and remembrance remain at the heart of this immersive experience, connecting visitors with the people who lived through World War II and helping ensure their stories and sacrifices are remembered.

2027 Proposed Site Layout
Coming Soon!

Experience Echoes of Valor

Step through the gates of AuGlaize Village and into a recreated wartime community. Echoes of Valor brings Mortain, France, during the summer of 1944 to life through occupied village streets, military checkpoints, Allied and German encampments, and historical scenarios that unfold throughout the grounds.

The experience extends beyond scheduled battles. Between demonstrations, reenactors continue the routines of camp life, stand watch at checkpoints, and portray the soldiers and civilians whose lives were shaped by the war. Visitors can explore the setting, speak with its inhabitants, and discover how individual experiences connect to the larger story of occupation, resistance, and liberation.

Step Into an Occupied European Town

Your journey begins at a German checkpoint marking the entrance to occupied Mortain. A manned guard shack, nearby encampments, and soldiers moving through the village establish the atmosphere of a town living under military occupation. As you continue through the grounds, you encounter different perspectives on wartime life, from civilians facing uncertainty to troops preparing for the fighting ahead.

Deeper within the village, the Allied encampment offers a look at life in the field. Explore the equipment, uniforms, and personal belongings that soldiers relied upon, and speak with reenactors about the practical challenges of serving far from home. Throughout the village, these details help create a connected historical setting where there is something to discover between the larger scheduled activities.

Battlefield reenactments bring the story into motion. The railyard and its communications bunker provide a setting for scenarios illustrating the importance of coordination, communications, and control of vital positions. Together with the checkpoints, camps, and village portrayals, these scenes allow visitors to follow the unfolding experience across the grounds.

The atmosphere is immersive, but participation is always at your comfort level. You are welcome to observe, ask questions, and engage with reenactors. Reenactors must not initiate physical contact with public attendees as part of the historical scenarios.

Education at the Heart of the Event

Echoes of Valor is open to the public Friday through Sunday. Friday places a special emphasis on school groups and educational experiences, welcoming students and homeschool families while remaining open to other visitors.

Students have opportunities to meet reenactors, examine period equipment, and explore the experiences of soldiers, medics, and civilians. Personal conversations and demonstrations help connect classroom lessons with the everyday objects, decisions, and challenges of wartime life.

That educational purpose continues throughout the weekend. Ask what a soldier carried, how a field camp operated, or how civilians navigated life under occupation. Reenactors bring knowledge and attention to their portrayals, helping visitors understand the people behind the uniforms and the stories behind the displays.

Food and Refreshments

Food and refreshment arrangements will be announced as they are confirmed. Please check this page before your visit for available options and other information to help you plan your day.

Explore More Than World War II

AuGlaize Village provides a historic setting with its own stories to discover. Its buildings and exhibits represent different periods of northwest Ohio’s history, offering visitors an opportunity to explore the region’s past alongside the World War II experience.

Allow time to enjoy the village grounds and visit the historic buildings and exhibits open during the event. The setting is an essential part of Echoes of Valor, providing streets and spaces that help bring the recreated community of Mortain to life.

Preserving History Through Experience

Echoes of Valor is made possible through the dedication of reenactors, volunteers, and the Defiance County Historical Society. Their shared purpose is to preserve history, encourage thoughtful questions, and honor the people who lived through the Second World War.

Every camp, conversation, and coordinated scenario contributes to that purpose. We invite you to explore the village, meet the people bringing its wartime setting to life, and leave with a deeper understanding of the experiences and sacrifices behind the history.

Event schedules, confirmed attractions, and additional visitor information will be posted as arrangements are finalized.

2027 Schedule Coming March 2027

Facebook Group Click Here!

For more insider event information please join our Facebook Group at the link above

Event Highlights

• Immersive Occupied Town of Mortain

• Allied & German Encampments

• German Guard Shack & Checkpoint

• American Checkpoint

• Military Patrols & Civilian Portrayals

• 16 × 8 ft German Bunker

• Chevaux de Frise

• Battle Reenactments

• Weapons & Equipment Demonstrations

• Friday School Programs

• Historic Village Exhibits

Field of Honor
Families are invited to purchase a white memorial cross for five dollars and have the name of their veteran placed upon it. This tribute is open to all who served, regardless of dates of service or whether their time in uniform was during war or peacetime.

Each cross will become a permanent part of our event display, returning year after year as a lasting reminder of the sacrifices made by those who wore the uniform. Our goal is to create a growing field of remembrance that honors service, preserves memory, and allows families to see their loved ones recognized publicly and respectfully.

Through this Field Of Honor, we ensure that their names are never forgotten.

M4A3E8 “Easy Eight” Sherman Tank

M3 & M16 WWII American Halftracks

Sd. kfz. 222German armored reconnaissance vehicle

German halftrack vehicle

German BMW R71 motorcycle with sidecar

M1a1 75mm American Pack Howitzer towed by a Willys American Jeep

Sd.kfz. 251 German Half Track