Monday, July 24, 2000
Veterans groups bring memorabilia to fairgrounds
By Michelle Reiter
Staff Writer
The fair's new Fine Arts Building is hosting one of the most well-strategized military operations since World War II this week - Operation Liberty.
The building will be steeped in foreign war memorabilia due to a collaboration of the Disabled American Veterans, Amvets, Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion, individuals and other local organizations.
Jim White, Operation Liberty's general chairman, said the four organizations came together to offer a display to honor area veterans.
Many of the displays, most hand-made by the organizations' members, were first seen at the Memorial Day events downtown in May. This includes the 1,200 pictures of Seneca County veterans and the Iwo Jima float created by members of Amvets.
According to Dave Hayes, an Amvets past commander, the Iwo Jima project took 905 hours to complete at the hands of about 23 Amvets volunteers. This is the second year of Amvets' five-year commitment to supply projects for both the fair and Memorial Day.
Hayes said this year's float was created in honor of WWII veterans, modeling the famous Iwo Jima memorial created to honor the United States' capture of the West Pacific island from the Japanese.
While none of the Amvets had ever done anything like it, Hayes said they solicited advice from their more artistic acquaintances and set to work.
They made the human figures with 2-foot by 2-foot boards, bolts, nuts, chicken wire and cloth soaked in glue.
The heads were from beauty salon dummies - all of them women.
With a little putty, paint and work, the Amvets transformed the women's heads to men's, completing one of their most laborious projects to date one day before it was scheduled to be a part of the Memorial Day parade.
Next year, as the third float of five, Hayes said Amvets will build a Saber Jet float to honor Korean War veterans - many of whom they hope will ride in the float with the jet for next year's Memorial Day parade.
Hayes said they were grateful for the 25 businesses between Tiffin, Fostoria and Findlay who also contributed to the float.
Other Operation Liberty highlights include military vehicles donated by local reserve units, uniforms and weapons from both a private donor in Tiffin and the Seneca County Museum.
Additionally, the veterans organizations also have booths respective to their branches for the public.
White said they hope to continue Operation Liberty every year, both on Memorial Day and at the county fair.
"We want to carry on Operation Liberty and keep it focused," he said. "We'll do it every year until it fizzles."
Today is also veteran's day at the fair - veterans are admitted for free all day.