Virtual Tour
Dayton V.A. Freedom Festival
On Saturday 27 and Sunday 28 May 2017 the 101st AB 502nd Living History and the Central Ohio Military Museum (COMM) set up at the Dayton, Ohio Veterans Administration. Displays included
AC patches, airborne patches, D-Day items, Handie Talkie, knives, uniforms of WWII veterans, weapons, T-5 parachute, posters, 30 cal machine gun, bazooka (with rocket), 60mm mortar, ammo crates, grenades and sand table. Bernadette Crumb and Diana Spitler we Red Cross Volunteers with a WWII display. The VA was open from 11:00am to 6:00pm daily. We were located adjacent to the museum. We were given the privilege of escorting patients confined to wheel chairs. This year we were given a private tour of the closed sections of the Miami Valley Military History Museum, located in what was the original library at the Dayton VA. Mark Conrad the museum curator showed us the upper floors and all the stored memorabilia he had for future displaying.
Grove City Memorial Day Parade
The Central Ohio Military Parade had a WWII Jeep in the parade. We pulled up the rear of the parade this year. Everyone enjoys seeing an original WWII jeep and some folks stop to have their pictures taken it. The parade went through downtown Grove City and then proceeded to the Grove City Cemetery. Mayor Ike Stage, Commander Jeff Shipley and other guests spoke honoring veterans. A 21 gun salute was given and taps were played.
Heritage Celebration
The Century Village in Grove City, Ohio held the Heritage Celebration on the 3rd and 4th of June. We set up a tent and promoted the concept of a military museum to all who visited. I signed up over 12 visitors for newsletters. Since the Village theme is the Civil War period we displayed Civil War items and a mannequin dressed in a cavalry uniform. The weather was ideal and the visitors enjoyed the village.
St. Mary’s Festival
On Sunday August 13, 2017 the 101st AB 502nd Living History and the Central Ohio Military Museum (COMM) set up at the St. Mary’s Festival in St. Mary’s, Ohio. Displays included AC patches, airborne patches, D-Day items, Handie Talkie, knives, uniforms of WWII veterans, weapons, T-5 parachute, posters, .30 cal machine gun, bazooka with rocket, 60mm mortar, demolition display and several uniforms on mannequins. The emphasis was on Vietnam. The Chained Eagles brought their traveling wall. It has all the Ohio veteran names who are MIA. It showed the date they went missing and if they had been located it had that date. The weather was great. Our tent was set up by the
37th ID Armory. We had good traffic all day. We were open from 11:00am to 4:00pm.
MILVETS Columbus Veterans Day Parade 2017
The MILVETS Columbus Veterans Day parade was on November 9th in downtown Columbus, Ohio. The theme was the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of the Air Force. We had a WWII jeep and a Kubelwagen (a German vehicle captured by the Allies). Tim Ellifitt and Rob Applegate drove the Kubel. Todd Kleismit was the veteran in the jeep. The Ohio Historical Connection is the group we support each year and Todd works there. I drove the jeep. Our walkers were John Fowler, Ian Fowler, Steve Crumb and Dennis Sullivan all from the 101st AB Living History Team.
On Friday, November 10th at 2:00 the Story Point Senior Living facility in Grove City sponsored the “History of Rickenbacker Air Force Base Rickenbacker”. The Air Base opened in 1942 as Lockbourne Army Air Base right here in the Columbus, Ohio area. Over the years it has seen many Veterans come through its gates, and has undergone many changes. They honored Veterans with a historical look of Rickenbacker through the years by local Rickenbacker Historian and Author, Robert Stroup. He told us about the base and his book Crossroads of Liberty. They had a brass band that played a selection of songs from the Civil War through the 1900’s. Vets enjoyed the band, refreshments and meeting each other.
In and On the Record
In the following pages you will see an article from the Grove City Record from October 12, 2017. I was fortunate to have this opportunity to reach out to the community about a museum here in town. I would like to thank Alan Froman for taking interest in my project.
Grove City Veterans Day 2017
On Saturday November 11th 2017 at 11:00am the American Legion Post 164 held a ceremony at the Gold Star Memorial in downtown Grove City. In the picture below is Post Commander Jeff Shipley addressing the crowd and Guest speakers (and fellow veterans) Mayor Ike Stage and Laura Lanese seated. A local music group played music for the crowd. There is an article with pictures below.
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