More than 100,000 people are expected to visit American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Traveling Wall, which are to be in Tiffin Wednesday through Sunday.
A motorcycle escort is to form at American Powersports, 3690 Speedway Drive, Findlay, at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. The escort, which could have more than 10,000 motorcycles, is to leave at 4:15 p.m., travel 40 mph to 45 mph and arrive at Carmie's Grill & Bar and Camden Falls, 2460 S. SR 231, Tiffin, around 5 p.m.
The route includes SR 12 from Findlay and into Fostoria, Lytle Street and SR 18 from Fostoria to Bascom, and Market Street to South Washington Street in Tiffin.
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PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE
Nancy Christensen and Sue Smith hang flag garland at Carmie’s Grill & Bar Monday afternoon.
Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz said the escort through Tiffin is going to take about four hours. Traffic lights are to be changed to yellow on the route and red for the cross roads at 5 p.m.
The mayor said the majority of intersections will be blocked off and staffed by volunteers who only will let people through in an emergency situation. The only road for north-south traffic through Tiffin is SR 53.
"We will have an officer there (at Market Street)," he said.
The police officer at SR 53 and Market Street is to stop the escort to allow vehicles through, but stoppages are not to occur as frequently as a traffic light would change to red. The escort could be stopped every 15 or 30 minutes, Montz said.
"It is not going to be at a high interval," he said.
The outer westbound and eastbound lanes of West Market Street are to be open for travel, and the escort is to be in the three middle lanes. Two fire trucks are to have their booms crossed and a flag is to be draped at Monroe and Market streets, Montz said.
"It's going to look great when (riders) come through," he said.
Montz asked people to be patient and encouraged anyone traveling in Tiffin between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m. Wednesday to think about their route ahead of time. They may have to go out of the way, but there is a way to get anywhere in town, he said.
"We've ensured that," he said.
Montz encouraged people to line the streets and said it is going to be an exciting event.
"It's the largest traveling Vietnam wall that exists," he said.
The event is going to bring more than 100,000 people into Tiffin over several days, the mayor said.
"It's definitely good for the community. ... I'm excited for it," he said.
Shuttle services are to be in place for people who wish to view the displays.
School buses are to shuttle people to the site from Smith Family Frosted Foods, 1773 W. CR 54, and Seneca County Fairgrounds, 100 Hopewell Ave., between 5:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m. Wednesday. Volunteer Fritz Smith said parking is available at Redeemer Lutheran Church, across the road from Carmie's, and in a nearby field.
Glenn Roddy, a member of AMVETS and Tiffin Elks, said officials have enlisted the help of Seneca County Agency Transportation to shuttle people from American Legion, AMVETS, Tiffin Eagles, Tiffin Elks, Knights of Columbus, Tiffin Moose and VFW. SCAT drivers are volunteering, and the clubs are paying for fuel, he said.
"Shuttles will be available from those locations to Camden Falls and also between clubs," he said.
Roddy said the service and fraternal organizations are to be open to the public for meals, entertainment and the free transportation service.
"It's all about trying to keep everybody safe. ... It is open to everyone," he said.
SCAT's shuttle service is to operate 5 p.m. Wednesday to 12:30 a.m. Thursday, 11 a.m.-midnight Thursday and 11 a.m. Friday to 12:30 a.m. Saturday.
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