KevOs4 Past Events and News

In July, 2007, Brent Snodgrass (from Gunboards.com) and Marshall Kregel (webmaster - KevOs4) went to the FinnFest 2007 Finnish Festival in Ashtabula, Ohio. Brent set up a tremendous display for the event and included some very rare military items used by the Finnish army during the war. On display were some rare tunics, rifles, pistols, helmets, newspapers, and many other items. It was worth the trip just to see this display! Marshall was working on his book project and interviewing Finnish war veterans. More about that project can be seen at www.FinnishWarrior.com. There were close to 4000 visitors to FinnFest this year, and as many as half of those visitors made their way through the display at one time or another. There was a large screen TV in one corner playing old Finnish war movies, and in the opposite corner, there was a CD player with Finnish songs that were popular during the war. With the large picture boards, background music, videos, and large table displays, it ranked as of the best Finnish Military History displays ever put together in the U.S.

A visit to Finland House in Lantana Florida, Feb. 2007 While meeting some Finnish friends in Lake Worth, Florida, I visited the Finland House and met Col. (ret.) Harry Manner who is the curator of the Finnish War Museum at Finland House. This is an excellent collection of Larry Thorne information, as well as documentation on Finnish medals from early century through WWII. The "Wall of Honor" is a most impressive display of medals and awards given to American Finns who fought during the Winter or Continuation Wars.
The Larry Thorne display with books, documents, medals, and uniform.	A close-up of the types of medals issued to Larry Thorne.		The "Wall of Honor" at Finland House in Lantana Florida
The awards issued to the curator's (Harry Manner's) father during the war.			Rows upon Rows of medals on display.
		This is a wood carving of General Mannerheim. Amazing quality!!!	Marshall (left) poses with Col.(ret) Harry Manner of the Finland House.

Show of Shows in Louisville, Kentucky, the 23, 24, and 25th of February, 2006

Joe, Jack, John and and Marshall set up a table at the huge militaria Show of Shows in Louisville. The KevOs4 table was overflowing with gear, books, helmets and dvds. We raised some good money for the KevOs4 bank account which will be used for future events. We all wore our Finn uniforms on Friday and Saturday during the show and that got a lot of attention.

We had guests from Finland who joined us at the table. There were 2 huge canvas bags full of patches, cleaning kits, slings, ammo pouches and other gear to put on the table. Sales were brisk but there is a lot of great items still available. We are making a list of these items and will put them on the website in the Gear For Sale section.

We recruited around 5 or 6 new members and got them some gear together. We also had several folks come by and join the group who already had all of the Finnish uniforms together and wanted to participate in shows and speeches. One new member has a complete tankers uniform with leather tunic and pants. Now, we need to get Tero to build us a tank!

Tero donated some items to the KevOs4 group to sell at the show and this helped us make some money for the group. Thank you Tero!

Jim Kippola and his wife came by several times over the long weekend. Ben Strout, the producer of Fire and Ice, came down to spend a few hours with us also. There were many dealers who dropped by the table and told us they were glad we were at the show. There was so much German and American gear at this show and we were the only pure Finnish table there.

Timo (on left) and Pentti cooking pancakes for the crowds at FinnFest 2005	Pentti showing off a pancake. He is wearing an m36 Artillery officer's uniform.	Aarne, a WWII Finnish veteran, is cooking pea soup in a wartime Finnish Field Kitchen	The Field Kitchen was made in 1936. It was altered to use propane for the show.
From left to right...John, Jack, Marshall and Joe.	The bunker was set up on the Northern Michigan University campus in front of the Superior Dome.	Timo (in back), Joe (right) and Jack (on left) riding in the back of a 1939 truck during a parade in Marquette Michigan.	Some of the KevOs4 group in uniform in front of a 1939 Ford truck. We rode the truck in a parade.

John and Joe behind one of the WWII Finnish bicycles that were on display near the bunker. These bikes were a major form of transportation for the Finnish troops during the war. They were continued to be used well after the war.	Joe and Jack take aim at the top of the Superior Dome.	6 of the KevOs4 members in the back of a 1939 Ford truck during a parade through Marquette.	Joe and m39 guarding the Finnish Field Kitchen. Aarne (in background) was cooking pea soup.
	Jack, Joe, and John in front of bunker. 2 other KevOs4 members in background on right.	Another picture of that beautiful 1939 Ford truck during the parade in Marquette at FinnFest 2005.	Pentti, Joe and John at the bunker display. Pentti is thinking about loading that mortar.