By Sam Wildow
MIAMI COUNTY — The Ohio Motor Pool will be returning to the Miami Valley Veterans Museum this Memorial Day as the museum plans to host this convoy of historic military vehicles as it travels through local communities in remembrance of military servicemen and women who paid the ultimate sacrifice.
The community is invited to visit the Miami Valley Veterans Museum, 2245 S. County Road 25A, Troy, on Monday to see the Ohio Motor Pool, an organization with the goal of the restoration and preservation of historic military vehicles, at approximately 1 p.m.
Karen Purke, executive director of the Miami Valley Veterans Museum, said the Ohio Motor Pool will be arriving at the museum with a variety of historic military vehicles that will be on display for the public to see. Purke encouraged attendees to arrive approximately 10 minutes early in order to watch the Ohio Motor Pool’s arrival.
The Miami Valley Veterans Museum will also be hosting a Memorial Day Service later on Monday at 2 p.m. in further recognition of the country’s fallen heroes, Purke said.
“We want to make sure that people recognize Memorial Day for what it is,” Purke said. While some may confuse Memorial Day with Flag Day or Veterans Day, Memorial Day remembers and honors those who died in active military service. Purke said the museum is aiming to make sure those who made that sacrifice are not forgotten.
The Miami Valley Veterans Museum will be open from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, where visitors can check out what else they have on display.
“We have an original Higgins boat – that served in World War II — on exhibit right now,” Purke said.
For more information, follow the Miami Valley Veterans Museum on Facebook or visit its website at miamivalleyveteransmuseum.org.
Other events known as of press time, include:
• PIQUA — The Piqua Veterans’ Association is planning the Piqua Memorial Day parade for 9 a.m. on Memorial Day, Monday, May 31.
Pending any changes in current health orders, the parade is scheduled to be held as usual, following the typical route from the Piqua Intermediate School to the Veterans’ Memorial at Forest Hill Cemetery.
The keynote speaker for the Memorial Day services following the parade will be Brigadier General Paul Craft of the US Army Cyber School at Fort Gordon, Ga.
Participants and visitors are asked to read and follow current health orders from the state of Ohio.
• The West Milton Memorial Day Parade will gather at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 31, at Memorial Stadium in the old high school parking lot and will begin traveling to Riverside Cemetery for a Memorial Day Recognition Ceremony.
• The village of Casstown’s Annual Memorial Day Parade will start at 10 a.m. Monday, May 31, on Main Street, with their parade lineup beginning at 9:30 a.m. Golf carts, cars, and tractors are asked to head to the back of the lineup in order to keep children on bicycles safe. Children are also invited to participate, and there will be a prize for the best-decorated bicycle. The parade will lead out to the Casstown Cemetery for the village’s annual Memorial Day program.
• The village of Covington will be hosting Memorial Day Observance Ceremonies throughout the village on Monday, including at 10:30 a.m. at Miami Memorial Park and at 1 p.m. at Highland Cemetery. Due to road construction, there will not be a parade or flags along High Street.
• The village of Fletcher will offer its Memorial Day parade beginning at 1:30 p.m. Monday, May 31.
• The Fletcher Fire Department will offer a drive-through chicken dinner from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., or sold out, Monday, May 31, at the firehouse, 6605 State Route 589, Fletcher. The boxed dinner will include a half chicken, applesauce, potato chips and dinner roll for $9.
• The Christiansburg Fire Co. will hold its 40th annual Memorial Day parade and services on Monday, May 31. The parade line-up will be at 11 a.m. at Christiansburg Park with the parade beginning at 11:30 a.m. Anyone wanting to join in the parade is welcome. Services will begin at 11:30 a.m. at Smith Cemetery.
