In its fifth year, Missouri Military History Appreciation Day continues to flourish.
The weekend annually features living historians and military re-enactors exhibiting their uniforms, equipment, weapons and vehicles, according to museum Director Charles Machon.
They will represent multiple conflicts, such as the Revolutionary War or the Civil War, World War I or World War II.
"There will be different historic vehicles on display," Machon said. "We'll have some modern military vehicles here as well, like the Humvee and things like that."
The event will feature new items to the museum. One is a Soviet Union armored personnel carrier, brought back from Afghanistan. Another is a small mortar that was used during the Spanish American War. Both are displayed in the outdoor area of the museum.
Inside, new items include a Civil War tunic, photos of the Missouri Unit that fought during the Spanish American War and documents showing Harry S. Truman's 1905 enlistment in the Missouri National Guard.
For the first time, the Civil Air Patrol is to post its mobile vehicle at the museum for the celebration. The "mobile classroom" will be available to teach people about aviation and aircraft.
Staff will also teach children how to make a variety of paper airplanes.
"We'll have paper airplanes all over the place," Machon speculated.
But, he said, any mess would be worth it.
The event, to be held from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. May 11 at the Ike Skelton Training Site, Museum of Missouri Military History, 2405 Logistics Road in Jefferson City, is free to the public and will go on rain or shine.
It drew about 1,500 people last year and continues to grow, Machon said.
The museum continues to increase its number of visits outside the annual celebration, he added. More than 10,000 people visited last year.
He asked: Who doesn't like to see large army tanks and trucks and jets?
"This is an educational opportunity. Watching TV can be inaccurate," he said. "We like to joke that our C-130 aircraft (at 100 feet long with a 134-foot wingspan) is Central Missouri's largest military attraction."