Fourth of July in Second Life

July 4, or the Fourth of July is Independence Day in the United States, when Americans celebrate the date their country declared itself a free and independent nation. In real life, people celebrate by going to parades, setting off fireworks, or simply holding a barbecue with the neighbors. In Second Life, Americans celebrate as well with a good party, and there were a number of those across the Grid.

One of the bigger events was the Fourth of July Festival hosted by the Flying Tigers high above the WW2 Tribute sim. From Tuesday July 3rd to Friday July 5th, there was music and exhibitions. There were also a few freebies to pick up, such as a jacket with the American flag on the back, handheld sparklers, and patriotic ribbons.

On July 4rth, DJ Heath performed, and a sizeable crowd showed up. One visitor, possibly from Europe, stumbled across the place. He didn't seem at sure what was going on at first, "Oh, this is when you Americans celebrate your Independence Day." He soon joined the party and was welcomed in.

Jessii2009 "Jessie" Warrhol (center) of the Flying Tigers, was also at the festivities. At other times at the festival were a fashion show, a Bon Jovi tribute, a cheerleader squad performance, and of course plenty of fireworks.

In Areo Pines Park, there was also celebration. In Equus, a stage was set up, with a band performance played out to a crowd.

Some sat in lawn chairs. Others danced around on the ground.

The event was hosted by Cindy Bolero. There was some irony in this celebration of freedom, there were a few concerns expressed by her about Internet legislation being debated in Washington, that they might not be able to hold music concerts like this in the future as copyright rules could make them illegal.

But in the meantime, there was celebration, and fireworks.

 Various clubs held 4rth of July parties. Among them were Mystery's "Queen of Hearts" and Club Zero Gravity. And there was Club Cutlass in the Sunweaver Estates, which had a small gathering that evening.

The tunes were provided by DJ Akea, whom was with his lady friend Angel.

Sunnies:  Tonight we blow the roof off Cutlass, with our 4th of July.  DJ Akea will be spinning the tunes, if we can get him out of the Trash Cans.  (Lots of good leftovers from the BBQs).  Anyways, dress up in your best Red,white and blues, to showoff your colors,  See you here.

Besides the music, Akea took a few minutes to play some people talking about what it means to be an American. Some were funny, others were more serious.

Not all at the club were from the United States. One girl showing up was from Australia. Someone joked she fit right in anyway as the country's colors were also red, white and blue.

It should be noted that the day saw some record high temperatures across the United States. So Second Life was one way to celebrate the day while beating the heat.

It was an event-filled Fourth of July on the Grid.

Bixyl Shuftan.

D-Day Commemoration

June 6 marked the 68th anniversary of D-Day in Europe, when the Allied invasion of Normany was launched, paving the way for the liberation of France and eventually the defeat of Germany. In Second Life, there was a commemorative event held by both the Flying Tigers and New Bastogne's German groups at the WW2 Battlefield sim, two sims north of the Flying Tiger airbase in WW2 Tribute. Several German players took up defensive positions on the ground while some of the Luftwaffe flew up in fighters. The Flying Tigers attacked in British and American planes.

 Two German players on the hill while their tank rolls onto the beach.

 An Allied cannon presumably set up by the attackers, but the soldiers are nowhere to be seen.

 The Tiger tank advances through barbed wire.

 One of the Allied landing craft lies empty, the soldiers somewhere on the beach.

 Besides barbed wire and machine gun fire, the Allied soldiers faced mines.

 Planes dueling in the skies, a German Me109 versus a British Spitfire and an American Thunderbolt.

A close-up look at the Thunderbolt.

The Me109 manages to get on the Thunderbolt's tail.

When the commemorative battle is over, the German soldiers get together, Heer (army), Luftwaffe paratroopers, and Waffen-SS.

 The pilots, both Luftwaffe and Flying Tigers, met at the latter's airbase. On the right is Captain Umaga, who planned the event.

 Some pilots, Luftwaffe and Allied, had more than just airplane tails.

Following the event, Captain Umaga thanked the soldiers and pilots for talking part, "Honored Officer colleagues, Soldiers of Any Armed force. Friends, Ladies and Gentlemen.

"We are gathered here to commemorate those who fell on this Day, June 6th. ... Speeches have been written over this event since after VE-Day (VJ-Day). And they all claim that the Generation that went out to fight in WW2, was the best Generation EVER.

 

"I most and sincerely disagree with that statement that during all armed conflicts stretching from the past way into the future. I will make this statement: THOSE who raised arms to fend for their Country and Loved ones: Those who shared a dream of a righteous world, Those who was tricked into armed combat by Sly Politicians, Mind Smothering Religious leaders. What  matters is not wheather they Won or Lost. They gave the most valuable thing: their LIFE. And to those that survived, I see you as witnesses to Man's Madness when it becomes unleashed.

 

"So to all Veterans, Civilians from ANY theater of armed conflict. You fought for what you believed in. You protected your Country and Family.

 

"So Stand Tall, since I claim you all the BEST of YOUR GENERATION!!

"So To Honor those who fought on this day June 6th 1944. I Request for a Minute of Silence"

Following the battle, German GeneralMajor Vickster Khun posted the following, "I'm extremely proud of all members who participated in today's D-Day event in the Flying Tigers area. Our leaders did a great job with no notice or prep-time, and our soldiers of the SS, Heer, and Luftwaffe demonstrated the power of our command. Flying Tigers Command sends their thanks as well!"

For more pictures, check both the article on the Flying Tigers website (here), and Alois Setzer's WW2 Roleplay in Second Life (here).

Bixyl Shuftan

Veterans Tribute Events on the US Marines’ Anniversary

November 10th was the 235th anniversary of the founding of the United States Marine Corps. In Second Life, The Second Life Veterans’ Tribute at Pelton Creek had a few special events in addition to their DJs and live musicians such as DJ Ramblin Rick and guitarist Kitzie Lane.

From 6 to 8 PM SL time, the Flying Tigers did an air show. Over the sim, the various planes from the air group performed acrobatics for the residents, taking off from the runway in the southern part of the sim. At 7 PM, there was a Coast Guard rescue demonstration. A civilian-owned pleasure craft puttered from the docks a short distance, then floundered, going belly-up. The boater lit a bright green smoke signal, visible from across the sim, and bobbed at the surface wearing a life vest, “Many boaters do not bother to take this step, and don’t make it,” the announcer shouted. It wasn’t much longer before a rescue helicopter appeared on the scene, dropping a basket, and the boater was safe.

At 8 PM, the air show took on a new form. Those Flying Tigers in the air landed, and two other air groups prepared to take off, the RA Biggin Hill Squadron in their Spitfires, and JG-2, the “Richthofens,” in their Messerschmit Me109s. They went up to engage in a virtual reenactment tribute of the Battle of Britain to thrill those below. Unfortunately, the sim was a bit laggy to some, hard to move or finding other planes hard to see at times. But the dogfight continued, with both shooting and fancy manuvers. After about an hour, JG-2s commander Vickster Khun ordered the German planes down, “We lost the Battle of Britain after all.”

Vickster has had a busy time at the Tribute, not only representing JG-2, but also taking on other roles. At one point, she commented, “I have had to change hats four times today,” then chuckled.

Following the dogfight, the pilots were invited to join those on the carrier for the dance, the SLVT volunteers and other guests, including veterans. Among the decorations for the party, a birthday cake for the United States Marine Corps.

It was a great day for the Second Life Veterans Tribute.

The Tribute goes on until the Closing Ceremonies at 6 PM

Bixyl Shuftan