Patriotic welcome

Just after 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, people standing in the parking lot of Camden Falls and Carmie's Bar & Grill were greeted with the flashing of police lights, and the roar of thousands of motorcycles completing a journey to pay tribute to those who served in the Vietnam War.

About 3,500 motorcycles, split in two heats due to an accident outside of Arcadia (no serious injuries were reported), accompanied the American Veterans Traveling Tribute and the Traveling Wall, which is in Tiffin through Sunday. Riders departed from American Powersports in Findlay and traveled through Fostoria, Bascom and downtown Tiffin before its final stop at Camden.

"The community really helped out to pull together what's happening today. It's really amazing," said Adam F. Smith, owner and general manager of Camden Falls and Carmie's. "It's exciting, we're just really happy to be part of it."

Article Photos

PHOTO BY MIKE MASELLA
Motorcycle riders arrive at Camden Falls Wednesday afternoon, escorting the American Veterans Traveling Tribute and Traveling Vietnam Wall.

PHOTO BY PAT GAIETTO
Carol Moore, of Tiffin, waves and take photos of the tribute as it passes on Market Street.

PHOTO BY PAT GAIETTO
Motorcycles roll into downtown under the American flag at Monroe and Market streets.

PHOTO BY JILL GOSCHE
Motorcyclists wait to leave The Cube in Findlay Wednesday afternoon. The photograph was taken from an airplane piloted by Tiffin Aire.

PHOTO BY PAT GAIETTO
Colleen Thorton, of Upper Sandusky, thanks World War II veteran Delbert Fruth, 91, of Alvada, for his military service Wednesday at American Prosports, Findlay. Fruth was the oldest rider. His medals are displayed on his windshield.

The event was organized by Seneca County for Veterans, a local group of residents and community leaders from Seneca and Wyandot counties.

About five years ago, Fritz Smith, owner of Smith Frosted Foods and Adam's father, decided he wanted to bring the 380-foot, four-fifths scale replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall to Tiffin after a similar event in Wyandot County in 2005.

"It's a tribute to the ones who weren't able to come home," said Fritz's wife Sue Smith, who rode with her husband as one of the first in the parade.

Fritz added he was happy to see the ride come together.

The goal of the event is to raise funds for a Vietnam memorial for Seneca County. Any additional funds are to be held by the group to provide services for veterans in Seneca County unable to receive assistance through government programs.

One of the organizers was Bob Hill, who also was involved closely with the wall when it was in Wyandot County.

"It was very moving," said Hill who led the procession.

"It would have been more impressive if we had all gotten here at the same time, but we're here and nobody got seriously hurt," he added, referring to the accident that separated the parade.

Also among the first few riders was Delbert Fruth, 91, of Alvada. Fruth, who served in the Army Air Corps in World War II, said as a veteran he wanted to join the wall ride, something he had never done.

"I enjoyed it. A little on the warm side, but it got better as we started moving," said Fruth, who has been riding motorcycles since he was a teenager. "I saw a lot of people in the crowd. You can't imagine how many people were out there watching."

As well as those in the parade, many were at Camden Falls ready to welcome the riders.

"I think this is going to be the biggest thing that's ever been to Tiffin, Ohio. I've been here my whole life and I can't think of anything as big as this," said Darl Kretzinger, a Tiffin resident who served as a Navy communications technician on the field during Vietnam.

Logan Lyon, who returned to Tiffin about a month ago after serving in the Navy, also came out to see the event.

"I think it's really awesome that they're coming through Tiffin," he said.

People at Westgate on the north side of Market Street were just some of the people who came to show their support.

"(The wall is) a great tribute," Robert Gill said. "Lot of people I went to school with have their names on that wall. I think it's an honor to have it coming through Tiffin."

"We wanted to see the memorial and the motorcycles," said Cindy Radcliff, accompanied by her husband Jim Radcliff. "Just to see the wall and honor the people."

Sue Madden honored the occasion by passing out a gross of flags to people along the route before the motorcycles started coming through.

"Vietnam was my war. It was my class that went," said a teary-eyed Madden, a graduate of Tiffin Columbian. She has many family members who have been involved in the military and she served as state president of the VFW for 2004-2005.

Tiffin Mayor Aaron Montz said he would be watching the motorcycles as they passed City Hall, a special moment for the city of Tiffin which has been preparing for the events with flags displayed along the parade route and a flag hung from fire truck booms as riders entered downtown Tiffin.

"I'm elated to have Tiffin as the focal point of the event," Montz said. "It's a great honor and privilege to be the mayor of the city where this is going on."

Those recognizing the riders on their path did not go unnoticed.

"It was so great to see people involved in Tiffin, Bascom, Fostoria, Findlay, everywhere," Fritz Smith said. "Everybody pulled over, waved as we drove by -"

"You could tell who were vets, they saluted as we rode by," Sue said.

While the wall was not ready for display Wednesday (an opening ceremony is at 4 p.m. today), people were still able to take in other sights, including Vietnam War-era military vehicles provided by John Cheney and John Cheney Jr., both of North Baltimore, and a Huey helicopter, which flew on missions during the Vietnam War. Throughout the week, the Vietnam War Experience Traveling Museum is open to the public at Camden Falls, a collection of war memorabilia collected by Chuck VanVoorhis, a Vietnam War veteran.

Sue Smith said her hope with the museum and the other tributes was to educate the community, especially children, that freedom is not free, but based on the sacrifices of many.

While many took in the memorabilia, perhaps the most touching sight around the parking lot Wednesday were people, most talking, laughing and having a drink, with friends new and old. Some of those most noticeable were the Vietnam vets, many proudly displaying their connection to the war with hats and T-shirts, like Rich Geno, of Toledo, who said he saw a flyer for the event while he was in Michigan. He was the seventh rider in the parade.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat," said Geno, who served in Vietnam with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, adding that he saw three others who served in the division Wednesday. "Everyone here is just so kind, and it's because we have a whole bunch of people who understand."

The wall is to be on display outside Camden Falls until 4 p.m. Sunday before going on the road to New York and Indiana next week.

- With additional reporting by News Editor MJ McVay