MEMORIALS

The five memorials will be on display through Saturday at the annual “Freedom’s Never Free” event at the fairgrounds.

This is the first time anywhere in the country that the five traveling memorials — honoring fallen service members from World War II and the Korean and Vietnam wars, plus the Lima Company Eyes of Freedom memorial and the Small Wars and Conflicts memorial — will be shown together, said Jeannie Ignash, president of Freedom’s Never Free.

The Ohio Patriot Guard riders, plus more than a dozen vehicles with the Mid Ohio Jeepers Organization, set out promptly at 2:40 p.m. Wednesday after a prayer from one of the riders: “Lord, please go with us as we honor the fallen.”

The escort made its way through Chillicothe, Circleville and Amanda before arriving at the fairgrounds in Lancaster. Motorists pulled to the side of the road to watch the riders pass; some got out to salute the procession. Others looked on from storefronts or waited on sidewalks sheltered under umbrellas. Families waved flags as the Ohio Patriot Guard motorcyclists and members of law enforcement in Fairfield County enter the county fairgrounds in Lancaster on Thursday as they finish escorting five traveling memorials to veterans on a nearly 50-mile trip from Chillicothe.

“This is a big deal. It’s a big deal for one of these memorials to be here, so it’s a huge deal for all five.”

Mark Squires, an Ohio Patriot Guard rider

riders drove by.

A motorcycle escort for these memorials isn’t unusual. Mark Squires of Mount Perry said he has escorted some of the memorials as far as West Virginia. This ride, though, was different.

“This is a big deal,” Squires said. “It’s a big deal

for one of these memorials to be here, so it’s a huge deal for all five.”

After a soggy ride, a handful of volunteers stuck around and got to work setting up the memorials for the display.

Richard Zimmerly of Columbus’ Southeast Side has helped set them up for

the past five years. The Patriot Guard member and Air Force veteran shows up whenever one is in the area.

“It’s the little bit I can do to give back for my brothers and sisters,” Zimmerly said.

The official opening ceremonies for Freedom’s Never Free begin at 4 p.m. Thursday at the fairgrounds. The memorials will be open to the public around the clock through Saturday.