Ask today's students about when the First World War was fought or about the attack on Pearl Harbor that launched America into World War II, and you're likely to receive a blank stare from many.

With visuals so much a part of our multimedia culture, it's hard for kids to absorb history simply through a textbook. To the benefit of us all, Hollywood is creating scenes with such detail and realism today that even the aged veterans who fought in the war are captivated. Current movies such as "Fury," which stars Brad Pitt; "Unbroken," which is directed by his wife, Angelina Jolie; and "American Sniper," directed by Clint Eastwood, are some current box office attractions that make viewers feel like they're part of the action.Well-researched equipment adds to the realism. For the movie "Fury," director David Ayer made it priority to have uniforms and weapons that were period appropriate. Even Brad Pitt was seen preparing for his role as a tank commander by driving a Sherman tank in the English countryside, where much of the film was shot.The pivotal tank battle scene took a week to film. Ayer managed to borrow the last surviving operational German Tiger tank from the Bovington Tank Museum in England for one day of shooting. Even the actors were spellbound by the appearance of this battlefield behemoth.To get the actors in shape for their roles, Ayer sent them through a four-month preparation process including a weeklong boot camp run by Navy SEALs. Pitt stated the regimen was set up "to break us down, to keep us cold, to keep us exhausted, to make us miserable, to keep us wet, make us eat cold food."Residents of central and eastern Pennsylvania are fortunate to have regional historical re-enactments that also strive for realism in their living history portrayals. The World War II Weekend held at Reading airport in early June offers us a glimpse into the war years, from the home front to actual warbirds and military vehicles. We can also talk to the actual combatants who used and experienced them.In south-central Pennsylvania, the Great War Association is now marking the 100th anniversary of World War I by re-creating many of the sights and sounds of the Great War on a 100-acre site in Newville, just west of Carlisle. The group has authentically re-created a portion of the Western Front as it may have appeared in 1917-1918, and re-enactors accurately portray the common infantryman. The group spring and fall tactical events are on April 17-19 and on Nov. 6-8, respectively, at the Caesar Krauss Great War Memorial Site in Newville.If your child finds textbook history to be boring, these living history events available in our region offer opportunities to help those pages come alive.By JIM ZBICKtneditor@tnonline.com