Heritage Day celebrates Wayne and Holmes history
A look back into history including a presentation from Sharon Deitrich, who will have a Flight 93 presentation; a Civil War encampment; a salute to Vietnam veterans; and hayrides and more will be featured in the annual Community Heritage Day in Moreland on Oct. 6.
The mournful sound of musket fire echoing throughout the valley is one of a number of moments that will hearken people to the annual Community Heritage Day celebration on Saturday, Oct. 6 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The celebration began seven years ago when the Moreland Community Historical Society wanted to get the word out their organization had historical information to pass along, and the event was born.
The public is invited to attend this event that features entertainment and history on the Gail and Gwen Miller farm, located at 8594 James Road near Moreland. There will be ample parking, and a shuttle service will be available.
The activities begin at 10 a.m. and run right through the entire day. One of the highlights will be Sharon Dietrich sharing a Flight 93 presentation. United Airlines Flight 93 was one of the catastrophes that took place on Sept. 11, 2001, a flight which was hijacked by terrorists and crashed in a field in Pennsylvania, killing all 44 people on board.
“This presentation is going to be a real highlight of the day,” Gail Miller said. “Sharon Dietrich has been involved with the national fundraising campaign efforts for the memorial from the very beginning. Her organization, 93 Cents for Flight 93, is incredible. She went to school groups, churches and a lot of other organizations seeking to raise funds in small ways, 93 cents at a time. She is very passionate, and her presentation is very moving.”
Another stirring presentation will be the salute to Vietnam veterans at 2:30 p.m., which will include Ken Kitchen, the 555th Honor Detachment and Rolling Thunder, a United States advocacy group that seeks to bring full accountability for prisoners of war and those service members missing in action from all U.S. wars.
“We will recognize any Vietnam veterans in attendance from Wane and Holmes county as a thank you. John Schmid will sing ‘Not Just a Name on the Wall,’ and Ken Kitchen will speak,” Miller said. “Then we will set up a battlefield cross by the flag pole and read the names of all of the people we know of from Wayne and Holmes county who didn’t come home. It’s a nice way to honor those who served.”
There also will be a Civil War Camp including Fred Donley’s musket display and a speech from President Abraham Lincoln impersonator Jerry Payne.
The 41st Ohio Volunteer Infantry also will be on hand to perform a living history Union Army camp and will fire off some volleys throughout the day.
John Schmid, who grew up in Moreland, will provide a concert. Linda Price from The Wilderness Center will give a presentation. The Cedar Valley Cloggers will perform. Jeff Zemrock will present a Native American artifact display and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources wildlife officers Aaron Brown and Jeremy Carter and his K9 partner Finn will be on hand.
The Marlboro Volunteers Weaponry Museum will be on full display with a collection of weapons, uniforms, vehicles and other memorabilia from past American wars and there will be buggy and hay rides, a kiddie tractor pull, a vintage baseball game featuring the Smithville Stars played just like the game in its infant days.
There will be a chicken and pork barbecue, and a silent auction that will feature a Henry Golden Boy .22 rifle.
“We are going to have some really great items for the auction, items that people won’t want to miss,” Miller said.
The event serves as both a fundraiser and an informational time for the Moreland Community Historical Society, which continues to be active in the area. According to Miller, the first year they had 500 people visit. It has grown considerbaly since that time.
“We are all very passionate about our community and about sharing our community and the Wayne and Holmes county history with people,” Miller said. “This is valuable information that needs to be passed along to future generations. This event features a lot of really great history as well as plenty of entertainment for the whole family, and we invite everyone to stop by and enjoy the day as we celebrate our past.”