Dioramas, parachute gowns, virtual radios and more this weekend
BY ABBY REINHARD THE COAST STAR
RYAN WELSH THE COAST STAR World War II jeeps are among the military exhibits on display at the InfoAge Science History Learning Center in Wall Township
WALL TOWNSHIP— World War II [WWII] Weekend will give visitors at InfoAge Science History Learning Center the opportunity to experience realistic dioramas, a rare light tank, and much more this Saturday and Sunday. According to John Cervini, a lifetime member of InfoAge and member of the board of trustees, WWII Weekend continues a tradition and honors Americans that have served in the armed forces.
“We’re continuing this, we’ve had it annually for almost a decade because InfoAge is the New Jersey WWII living memorial,” Mr. Cervini said. “[People who attend] will be able to remember the sacrifices that people made since fewer and fewer WWII veterans are around.”
WWII Weekend will take place during normal InfoAge hours from 1 to 5 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, where visitors will be able to view a special display of vehicles normally in the Military Technology Museum, including the newly-restored WWII General Jeb Stuart light tank.
There will also be WWII dioramas, most notably one displaying the “Parachute Gown.”
According to Mr. Cervini, Violet Marie Mlynarski married Staff Sgt. Frank Theodore Robinson on June 22, 1946 in a gown made from what was once her husband’s parachute.
The parachute, which was made of Chinese silk, was used by Staff Sgt. Robinson during WWII in the Pacific Theater when he was a member of the Army Air Corps.
The gown was worn again 30 years later by the couple’s daughter, Maryann, when she married Army Spec. 4 Joseph W. Boyne Jr.
Visitors can also travel back in time by observing the WWII Living Room, which includes a display of period furniture and a “virtual” radio.
The interactive device allows for guests to select a year from 1941 to 1945 and opt to hear news, radio shows or music of the time.
Another display will include a one-of-a-kind 25-foot by 17-foot illustration of Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7 1941 by Len Cafone.
Mr. Cafone, a retired history teacher from Neptune High School and WWII afficianado, completed the drawing, then brought it to a special company to have it blown up and put together in five different sections.
“It’s the first time people can get a view — we might call it a drone’s eye view — of the entire area really blown up,” Mr. Cervini said.
Mr. Cafone will be having a question and answer session during the event, “highlighting some little known facts that have come to light about the invasion,” Mr. Cervini said.
Admission for the event is $5 per person. For more information about the event, please visit
Abby Reinhard can be reached at areinhard@thecoaststar.com or 732-223-0076 Ext 17.