Todd Anton has been teaching in the Snowline Unified School District for nearly 35 years. Over those decades, he has used his 30-year relationship with the WorldStrides tour company to take students and families on various educational excursions. These trips have included visits to Washington, D.C.; Boston; New York City; Gettysburg; Philadelphia; Baltimore and, most recently, Germany.
“Taking students to where history was made is among the most rewarding moments of my career,” Anton said. Over time, he began to question why such life-changing experiences should be available only to students. As a result, he has organized a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for Tri-Community residents—a World War II adventure scheduled for June 16 through June 26, 2025.
The journey begins in Churchill’s London and continues to Normandy via the English Channel. After visiting the beaches and battle sites made famous by Saving Private Ryan and Band of Brothers, Anton will guide the group to Bastogne to explore the battlefields of the Battle of the Bulge. The tour will then enter Germany at Cologne, the famous Rhine River city, before moving on to Nuremberg, site of the infamous National Socialist Party rallies. Venturing south, the group will visit Munich and the Dachau Concentration Camp, concluding at Hitler’s Eagle’s Nest. The trip also includes a stop at Mozart’s home and a tour of Salzburg, Austria.
Anton is the author of several books with a World War II focus, including When Baseball Went to War, When Football Went to War, and No Greater Love: Life Stories from the Men Who Saved Baseball. He collaborated with Fox Sports on a War Stories with Oliver North episode called “From the Ballpark to the Battlefield: Baseball and World War II,” inspired by his books. Anton holds a master’s degree in World War II studies and served on the Board of Trustees for the National World War II Museum in New Orleans. He was nominated for this position by noted historians Stephen E. Ambrose, author of acclaimed works like Band of Brothers and D-Day, and Gordon “Nick” Mueller, co-founder and CEO of the museum.
In addition to his literary and advisory contributions, Anton has worked with movies and World War II travel companies such as D-Day Memory Tours. Locally, he is best known as the founder and host of the Annual Veterans Dinners in Phelan, California, an event he has organized for 30 years.
“It has been my honor to serve the High Desert community for over 34 years, and I wanted to give our area an opportunity to travel with me and see where the Greatest Generation, like my father, served,” Anton said.
The trip is not a student excursion. While WorldStrides primarily focuses on student trips, it also offers specialty events like this and values Anton as a long-term customer dating back to 1996. Although the website may appear student-focused, this trip is designed for adults and families. No minors are allowed without an accompanying adult.
“I’ve worked hard to create a World War II adventure from the American perspective. I hope to make it memorable and that we all come home with a renewed sense of appreciation for our freedoms and for those who sacrificed for them,” Anton said.
This is a physically demanding trip with lots of walking. To contact Anton for more information, email him at [email protected]. Time is of the essence—there are only a few spots left! Registration ends February 26th.
For more information on the trip and to register, visit: www.educationaltravel.com/Anton-6025.
