At the end of August, residents of Carter County will have the chance to have “A Walk in Their Boots,” showcasing the histories and sacrifices of the men and women who served during the WWII era.

Jeff Campbell, a local reenactor, said they have been putting on a Multi-Era Event for many years, showcasing the histories of those who served in wars throughout history, but they wanted to do something special for the 75th anniversary of the Normandy Invasion.

“We wanted to honor that event,” Campbell said. “They changed the world you and I live in.”

The invasion was one of the biggest turning points in the war, securing a beachhead for Allied troops in northern France.

Campbell recently took part in the official reenactment of D-Day in June, which saw international coverage.

“I wanted to bring a taste of that experience home with me,” he said.

The “Walk in Their Boots” event will feature memorabilia and other presentations from families of veterans who served in the WWII era, a showcase of what life looked like back then.

Campbell said one woman is going to talk about the Radon Plant in Carter County. Another will be talking about the Nursing Cadet Corps.

“It helps people get a perspective,” Campbell said.

He said people often miss large parts of the true story of the war because they have pre-conceived notions of who served and who did not. In the end, there were way more participants than the war movies lead people to believe.

“A war effort is a national effort,” he said. “We want to focus on the smaller stories.”

This is where the community comes into the picture. Campbell said he wants as many personal, local stories to be on display as possible, whether they be pictures, letters or something else. This is not a donation or a gift; Campbell said they will return the items when the event is over.

“They can have the opportunity, a chance to tell their family’s stories,” he said. “All of it is part of the era.”

Those interested in showcasing their family’s WWII-era history or giving a presentation on it can set it up by contacting Campbell at 423-282-2829. The event itself will take place at Sycamore Shoals State Park on Saturday, Aug. 31, a day-long event. Preferably, Campbell said they would like to see everyone’s pieces by the day before so they can set the schedule, but walk-ins are also OK.