Armed Forces Day celebration set

FINDLAY — Military vehicles, reenactments and helicopter rides will be offered during the Findlay Show — the 37th annual Armed Forces Day celebration — hosted by the Findlay Military Association this weekend at the Hancock County Fairgrounds. Hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday; and 7 a.m. to noon on Sunday. Daily admission is $10 for adults and $5 for ages 6-17. Children under age 6 are admitted free. A three-day pass is $20 for adults and $10 for children. Parking is free by entering the fairgrounds through Gate C, located on the east side of the fairgrounds off Fishlock Avenue. "We are one of the largest shows in United States of its kind," said John Cheney II, commander of the FMA. "It is a military vehicle show. It is a memorabilia swap meet. But foremost, it is a show so we can honor our veterans, the brave men and women of United States Armed Forces." Cheney expects 700 to 800 participants along with 4,000 to 5,000 people to attend this weekend. The first show, organized by the Military Affairs Committee of the Findlay-Hancock County Chamber of Commerce, was held on Main Street. The show moved to the fairgrounds the next year. The committee disbanded after about 10 years and the Findlay-Hancock County Military Association was formed with Roger Neff serving as commander. "Hancock County" was later dropped from the name of the organization, and Cheney took over as commander. Membership doesn't require having served in the military. The 2020 show was canceled because of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the 2021 event was also in question, Cheney said. The day before the show, the state lifted its mask mandate. That combined with good weather and people wanting to get out of the house brought out a crowd they were unprepared for, he said. "There were people everywhere. Where did all these people come from?" laughed Cheney. As in the past, visitors will see living history displays, military vehicles and reenactment performances. Food and beverages will be available throughout the event, and camping is offered. The American Huey 369, the primary helicopter used in the Vietnam War, along with the UH-1B Gunship 049, will arrive at the fairgrounds around noon Friday. Membership flights will be available throughout the day by joining the National American Huey History Museum. The Wolfhounds, a Vietnam reenactment living history group, will accompany the Huey. Cheney said there will not be a flamethrower this year as the man who has demonstrated it in the past has retired. However, the First Mad River Light Artillery will present several cannon demonstrations on Saturday, and a World War II battle reenactment will be held by the Lye Creek Bridge. The Genoa American Legion Band will perform Saturday at the gazebo. The Ohio Motorpool, in conjunction with the FMA, will be judging military vehicles for the first time. "People with a military vehicle, restored or whatever, they pay a small fee to come in and have it judged and see what level it is," said Cheney. Vehicles will be awarded either a gold, silver or bronze plaque. The event will be held in Legacy Building where there will also be vendors and a display of World War II bicycles. A World War II field hospital display will be exhibited in the dairy barn on Saturday. Cheney said three patriot trucks will be back, created from F350 pickup trucks. In all, there will be 120 to 150 military vehicles on display. A pass-n-review parade is scheduled for 4:30 p.m. Saturday. "It's a parade, but it's also a chance for people to drive their vehicles around," Cheney said. At least 185 vendors will be onsite, he noted. Opening ceremonies will be held Saturday, which is Armed Forces Day, beginning at 10:15 a.m. Music will be performed by the Arlington High School Marching Band and there will be a Cincinnati Warbirds flyover. An awards breakfast will held at 7:30 a.m. Saturday in the Old Mill Stream Centre. Show admission is not included with the breakfast ticket. Breakfast is followed by a veteran recognition and awards program at 8:30 a.m. "It's a good weekend," said Cheney. "We do it primarily to honor our veterans and try to help educate the public or show them some of the vehicles and some of the lifestyles of what the veterans actually when through when they served." The schedule by day follows: Thursday 6 a.m. – FMA food booth opens 7 a.m. – Gates open to the public 8 a.m. – World War II bicycle and other displays open 9 a.m. – Color guard raises colors. 6 p.m. – Color guard retires colors 10 p.m. – Gates closed Friday 6 a.m. – FMA food booth opens 7 a.m. – Gates open to the public 8 a.m. – World War II bicycle and other displays open 9 a.m. – Color guard raises colors Noon – American Huey 369 and Wolfhounds arrive and set up 6 p.m. – Color guard retires colors. 10 p.m. – Gates closed Saturday 6 a.m. – FMA food booth opens 7 a.m. – Gates open to the public 7:30 a.m. – Awards breakfast, Old Mill Stream Centre 8 a.m. – First Mad River Light Artillery cannon demonstration, also at 10 a.m., noon and 3 p.m. 8:30 a.m. – Veterans awards program, Old Mill Stream Centre 9 a.m. – World War II bicycle and other displays open 10:15 a.m. – Opening ceremonies, music by the Arlington High School Marching Band, Cincinnati Warbirds flyover 10:45 a.m. – American Huey 369 and Wolfhounds greet public Noon – Ohio Motorpool meeting, Old Mill Stream Centre 1 p.m. – Genoa Band, midway gazebo 2 p.m. – World War II battle re-enactment, Lye Creek bridge, back gates will be open 4:30 p.m. – Pass-N-Review parade, awarding dash plaques 6 p.m. – Color Guard retires colors 10 p.m. – Gates close Sunday 7 a.m. – FMA food booth opens; gates open to public Noon – Event over