World War II-era bomber flies into town
With bad weather lurking, fireworks show blasts off early
Ever wanted to fly in a B-17? Flights aboard the Boeing B-17 bomber Madras Maiden are being offered this weekend at Bolton Field. Only a dozen of that World War II aircraft remain in flight, Reporter Megan Henry writes.
Despite a 10-minute early start in anticipation of approaching rain that still hadn’t arrived after the show, the Red, White & Boom fireworks once again demonstrated to hundreds of thousands lining the banks of the Scioto River Downtown why it is Ohio’s largest fireworks display.
“I love watching the fireworks. We started a new tradition and this is our fourth year,” said Chris Tysinger of Gahanna, who watched along with his wife, Jane, and some friends.
Moments after the first fireworks of the 25-minute show launched skyward,
Mrs. Tysinger added: “I love just coming down and being in the heart of it all. I love feeling like you can feel (the fireworks).”
Odessa Schere, who has lived in Columbus for 40 years, said she and her dad have been coming to the fireworks for 20 years. The finale is always her favorite part, she said, because of “the loud roar in your chest.”
The National Weather Service office in Wilmington said it was consulted by an official connected with Red White & Boom about the weather, and was advised there was a chance of storms rolling into Downtown around the time the fireworks were scheduled to be set off at 10 p.m., said Myron Padgett, an Weather Service meteorologist.
Officials settled on a 9:50 p.m. start immediately after “The Star-Spangled Banner.”
Columbus police said that three minor arrests had been made prior to the fireworks.
Sgt. Richard Ketcham said only one missing child was reported. The 11-year-old autistic boy was later found and returned to his mother. Police had set up five childidentification locations for the annual event and immediately issued an alert for the child.
Earlier Monday night, crowds lined either side of Front Street for the Ford Oval of Honor Red White & Boom parade that began at 6 p.m. Representatives from local schools, businesses and organizations participated.
A man dressed as Jesus waved from atop a blue float with a model of Earth at his feet. Haribo representatives pelted the sidewalks with packets of gummy bears and children rushed to grab as many little gold bags as they could off the street.
The Ohio University Alumni Band danced down Front Street, exciting patrons such as Corrine Lively, 27, of Reynoldsburg, and her brother- and sisterin-law, Robbie Lively, 22, and Amanda Lively, 20, of Groveport, who were all members of their own marching bands in school.
Corrine said that watching the band inspired her and her siblings, especially seeing the older band members who were able to keep pace.
“Props to them,” said Amanda, who has watched the parade with her brother “almost every single year since birth.”
Some of those who prematurely departed the parade traveled west down Broad Street and joined in a circle around a group of dancers breaking it down in the intersection of Broad Street and Marconi Boulevard.
Food vendors had a steady flow of people beginning around noon. Lines were not very long earlier for Italian sausages, lemon shakeups, Icees, ice-cream cones and other festival staples. However, the crowds increased dramatically before and after the parade and remained steady into the evening as temperatures soared into the 80s.
Officers and first responders working the 37th annual event were provided a special lunch courtesy of the Citizens Police Academy Alumni Association. Member Tanya Simpson her husband, Jamie, were the main organizers for the lunch this year, which had many sponsors including CME, Pepsi and Meijer and Chick-fil-A, who provided sandwiches, salads and cookies for officers.
“You can’t have officers carry a lunch,” said Officer Catherine Kirk, who explained that waiting in line for food from vendors is also impractical for officers, who must be on call in case something happens. “We have so many officers scheduled for the event... it’s very difficult to get that many people fed.”
“We’re feeding them, taking care of them ‘ cause they take care of us,” Mr. Simpson said.