Aug. 3, 2025, marks the 125th anniversary of the birthday of Ernie Pyle — the renowned, Pulitzer Prize-winning Hoosier war correspondent. The Ernie Pyle WWII Museum in his hometown of Dana, Indiana, will mark the occasion with a week of special events Aug. 2-10 including entertainment, a party with cake and ice cream, WWII re-enactors, a screening of the movie, “The Story of G.I. Joe,” and the town’s annual Ernie Pyle Firemen’s Festival.
The birthday week celebrations begin with a showing of “The Story of G.I. Joe.” The 1945 film will be screened outside at the museum at 9 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 2. The acclaimed movie was released 80 years ago this year. It stars Burgess Meredith as Pyle and touches on a story in Pyle’s most famous column, “The Death of Captain Waskow.” The movie debuted in Indianapolis in July of 1945, shortly after Pyle was killed in April of that year.
Birthday celebration events at the museum feature a variety of entertainment and activities. All times are EST. Festivities include the annual Ernie Pyle Firemen’s Festival which features a parade, car show, games, music, food and more on Friday, Aug. 8 and Saturday, Aug. 9. Download a birthday week event flyer here. Download a flyer for the annual Firemen’s Festival here.
Pyle was born in a farmhouse in 1900 just outside of Dana in west central Indiana. He went on to a career in journalism that included writing poignant, first-person, human-interest stories about regular soldiers during WWII. His columns were published in 400 daily and 300 weekly newspapers across the country and he became a beloved chronicler of “The Greatest Generation.” Pyle was killed shortly before the end of the war by sniper fire on the island of Ie Shima in 1945. “No man in this war has so well told the story of the American fighting man as American fighting men wanted it told. He deserves the gratitude of all his countrymen,” said President Harry Truman at the time of Pyle’s death.
While in Dana for birthday events, visitors are welcome to visit the museum. The house where Pyle was born is part of the museum where visitors can tour to learn about Pyle and life in the early 20th Century. The museum also includes Quonset huts where visitors can learn about WWII and the experiences of the soldiers Pyle covered during his time as a war correspondent.
The museum is open Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sundays from Noon-5 p.m. from May through Veterans Day in November. It will be open extended hours during the birthday week events. It is located at 120 Briarwood Ave, Dana, Indiana. Admission is free and donations are welcome in the gift shop. To arrange a group or special tour on another day or during the off-season, call the museum at 765-554-3633 or email director@erniepyle.org
Ernie Pyle 125th Birthday Celebration Events
Friday, Aug. 2-Sunday, Aug. 10
- Saturday, Aug. 2, 9 p.m. Outdoor Showing of “The Story of G.I. Joe” — bring a lawn chair, blanket, and enjoy the movie. Museum open 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
- Sunday, Aug. 3, 12:30 p.m. Ernie Pyle’s Birthday Party! Come enjoy birthday cake and ice cream Museum open Noon-5 p.m.
- Monday, Aug. 4, 6-8 p.m. Enjoy the music and dance of the WWII era. Museum open 5-8 p.m.
- Tuesday, Aug. 5, 5-8 p.m. Taco Tuesday. As a roving reporter, Pyle crisscrossed the country and also Mexico and Central America. Mexican Food Truck on site for dinner. Museum open 5-8 p.m.
- Wednesday, Aug. 6, 5-8 p.m. Hometown Gathering. Hot dog meals, kids’ games, and more; Museum open 5-8 p.m.
- Thursday, Aug 7, 5-7 p.m. Bring your dog for special outdoor treats and a photo in the museum’s WWII Jeep. Friendly, leashed dogs only. Ernie had special dogs in his life — Shep, Cheetah, and any he met on his travels. Museum open 5-8 p.m.
- Friday, Aug 8- Sunday, Aug.10 WWII Reenactment. Museum open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; noon-5 p.m. on Sunday.
- Saturday Aug. 8-Sunday, Aug. 9 Ernie Pyle and Firemen’s Festival. Join us for this annual event in downtown Dana featuring a parade, food, music and more. Museum open 10 a.m.-8 p.m. on Saturday; noon-5 p.m. on Sunday.
Annual Ernie Pyle & Firemen’s Festival
Friday, Aug. 8
4-8 p.m. Homemade Chicken & Noodle Dinner w/ all the fixins at the Helt Fire & Rescue Firehouse, 160 N. Maple St. Sponsored by the Dana Ladies Auxiliary.
5-10 p.m. Bingo, in front of Firehouse.
6-6:30 p.m. Inflatables, across from Firehouse ($15/date or individually as your time at the festival allows).
6:30-7:15 p.m. Talent Contest, stage. Registration at 6 p.m.
8-10 p.m. Crown Hill Band, stage.
9:30 p.m. Merchandise Wagon, stage.
Saturday, Aug. 9
• 10:30 a.m. Book Walk, stage, a quarter per walk.
• 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Car Show. Register at Wickens Construction on Main St.
11 a.m. Pet Parade. Line up in front of Firehouse. Judging at 11:30 a.m.
• 2 p.m. Book Walk, stage, a quarter per walk.
• 2:30-3:00 p.m. Registration for Baby, Little Miss & Master Contests, stage.
• 3:00 p.m. Baby, Little Miss & Master Contests, stage.
• 3-8 p.m. Jonah Fish Fry, Firehouse. Sponsored by Helt Fire & Rescue.
• 3-10 p.m. Bingo, in front of Firehouse.
• 3:30 p.m. Firemen’s Kid Games, Firehouse.
• 4-10 p.m. Inflatables, across from Firehouse ($15/date or can do individually as your time at the festival allows).
• 6 p.m. Parade, line up at 4 p.m. at the Dana Ball Park, north end of Dana.
• 7-8 p.m. Cake Walk, in front of stage, quarter/walk.
• 8-9:45 p.m. Stampede Band, stage.
• 10:15 p.m. Merchandise Wagon, stage.
Contact Information
Parade Dave Bishop 765-505-0819
Pet Parade Brenda Harvey 812-201-4633
Car Show Brook Dreher 689-261-5953
Talent Show Martha Reed 812-236-7254
Baby, Little Miss & Master Contest, Meleisha Umbarger 765-505-0711
Vendor & Concessions, Jordan Peebles 765-820-1245
Merchandise Wagon, Scott Peebles 765-826-1739 Michele Peebles 765-505-0451
Above: Clockwise from left: Dana, Indiana, native Ernie Pyle was a beloved WWII correspondent; The farmhouse Pyle was born in is part of the Ernie Pyle WWII Museum in Dana; The 1945 movie, “The Story of G.I. Joe,” stars Burgess Meredith as Pyle and includes narration and dialogue from his columns including his most famous wartime piece, “The Death of Captain Waskow.”
