Gold For Ghosts: Rick Beyer's Amazing Campaign for History's Hidden Heroes

Lexington History Museums

In WWII, they deceived Hitler's army with cunning fakery. 80 years later, they have received their medals. This is their story.

Lexington Historical Society

Nearly 20 years ago, while living in Lexington, author and filmmaker Rick Beyer learned the incredible story of the WWII deception units known as The Ghost Army. He soon launched a quest to tell the world about their exploits, and to make sure what they did would never be forgotten. That led to the Ghost Army documentary (2013), the book (2015), and finally the Congressional Gold Medal (2024), the highest honor Congress can bestow.Now Rick returns to Lexington to recount his epic Ghost Army journey. It began on a winter’s day in a Lexington coffee shop, and after inumerable twists and turns, culminated in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol presided over by the Speaker of the House. Rick will share insights, anecdotes, and behind-the-scenes adventures from this wild 20-year ride that so many people in Lexington took part in. All illustrated with rarely seen photos and footage. A story about what it really takes to see history preserved and remembered."The Ghost Army" is one of those remarkable projects where the underlying story of bringing the history to light winds up nearly as compelling as the historical tale itself. Rick Beyer will share both those stories June 13. $10 members, $15 nonmembers, $5 veterans, active duty military FREE.Doors will open at 6:30 for refreshments.

Rick Beyer is an award-winning documentary filmmaker, New York Times best-selling author, and long-time history enthusiast. Rick produced and directed The Ghost Army documentary, and co-authored the book The Ghost Army, about the WWII deception troops who carried out 22 deceptions on the battlefields of Europe. He led a nine-year campaign that resulted in the unit being presented a Congressional Gold Medal in March 2024. He also leads a Ghost Army tour for Stephen Ambrose Historical Tours.Rick wrote the guidebook and made the orientation film for Lexington MA, site of the first battle of the Revolution. He has also developed and led two Ambrose Tours: Revolutionary War: Boston To Quebec, covering the first two years of the war, and Revolutionary war: Road to Yorktown, covering the final year. He is developing a third tour, Revolutionary War: The Campaigns of George Washington, to be offered in the future. His most recent book, Rivals Unto Death, explores the intricate thirty-year rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Aaron Burr. Rick is the Co-host of History Happy Hour, a weekly live cast where he and Chris Anderson interview history authors. He has made numerous history films for The History Channel, National Geographic, the Smithsonian Institution, and others. He is the author of the acclaimed book series The Greatest Stories Never Told. And he has shared his unique take on history with audiences around the country, appearing on CBS News, Fox News, NPR, CNN, as well as in the New York Times and Washington Post. A graduate of Dartmouth College, and a former resident of Lexington, AA, he now lives in Chicago.

Gold For Ghosts: Rick Beyer's Amazing Campaign for History's Hidden Heroes

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Gold For Ghosts: Rick Beyer's Amazing Campaign for History's Hidden Heroes

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