FORT WASHITA-Hundreds of Texomans turned up at Fort Washita for a special fundraiser event. Victoria Maranan tells us more.
Mike Buckendorf remembers the night Fort Washita burned down.

"My girlfriend and I were out hiking late September and I turned my cellphone on when I got back and I had these frantic phone calls from other re-enactors. Just 'the fort burned! the fort burned!' We were all extremely upset about it," he said.

It was then Buckendorf decided to hold a fundraiser to help restore what was lost that night almost a year ago.
Saturday, re-enactors donned in Civil War and World War II uniforms were all over Fort Washita

"Since all of us use this fort and love this fort so much that I thought it'd be great to have an all-era fundraiser when all the different eras that used this fort came together," he said.
Re-enactors from all eras entertained the crowd with weapons demonstrations, featuring firearms used in those wars. And, later on, the highlight of the event, a World War II re-enactment.
This was the first time Woodrow Wilson II of Sherman, Texas participated. His grandfather served in the armed forces during World War II and he felt that being part of this activity was his way of keeping history alive.

"Being a part of this group, you know, it's one of the greatest experiences I ever had. It makes me feel better for who I am because, for one, I am saving history in a way...we all are saving history," he said.

Brian Caldwell of Henrietta, Oklahoma has been involved in the re-enactments in the past seven years. And he said, his involvement is his way to pay tribute to the fort.

"I feel like it's my way of paying back. This place holds a very special place in my heart because, one, several of my early events were here. But more importantly, a year ago, March 13, I was married here," he said.

He and his wife were married in one of the barracks in full-World War II uniforms.
Judith Hakert has been attending events and re-enactments at Fort Washita with her husband. And she said she’s glad to see the community come together in an effort to restore the landmark’s former glory.

"I think what they're doing is wonderful to get the donations and I hope they make it...I really do."