The Mesopolonica Theatre
In Which Our Heroes Rescue a Comrade-in-Arms
May 8 to June 8, 2008 at the Ballard Verite Coffee {link}
Opening during Ballard Artwalk -- May 10, 6-9pm!
Rumour had it in every battalion on the Western Front that the next move would be to the East and comparative ease and safety. In time this hypothetical and unknown destination came to be called Mesopolonica.
Meet our heroes:
Wojtek was a Syrian Brown Bear cub adopted by soldiers of the 22 Kompania Zaopatrywania Artylerii (2nd. Artillery Supply Company) of the Polish II Corps. During the Battle of Monte Cassino, Wojtek helped to move ammunition. He served in Iraq, Syria, Palestine, Egypt, and southern Italy. The bear became quite an attraction for soldiers and civilians alike, and soon became an unofficial mascot of all units stationed nearby. He was often rewarded with beer, which became his favourite drink. He also enjoyed eating cigarettes.
Cher Ami was a registered Black Check Cock homing pigeon which had been donated by the pigeon fanciers of Britain for use by the U.S. Army Signal Corps in France during World War I and had been trained by American pigeoneers. In his last mission, Cher Ami delivered a message despite having been shot through the breast, being blinded in one eye, covered in blood, and having a leg hanging only by a tendon. He saved 194 soldiers of the 77th Division in the battle of the Argonne, 1918.
Sergeant Stubby was the most decorated war dog of World War I and the only dog to be promoted to sergeant through combat. A pure bred American pit bull terrier, Stubby marched with Conroy and even learned an approximate salute. He served with the 102nd Infantry, 26th (Yankee) Division in the trenches in France for 18 months and participated in four offensives and 17 battles. At Chemin des Dames he was under constant fire, day and night, for over a month. He was solely responsible for capturing a German spy in the Argonne.
More pictures soon. Some text courtesy Wikipedia.
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