Show is growing

The goal when Indiana Military Vehicle Preservation’s annual show was moved to Jay County was to grow the event.

Progress is being made. And the hope is now to continue to expand the connection with the community.

Museum of the Soldier and Indiana Military Vehicle Preservation will host the military vehicle show and swap meet from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday at Jay County Fairgrounds.

“It’s probably doubled or tripled,” said Museum of the Soldier’s Jim Waechter of the event’s growth since shifting to Jay County in 2014. (It had previously been held first in Anderson and then in Crawfordsville.) “Last year’s show — because we were basically the only one that happened around the United States — drew a lot of people that wouldn’t necessarily have been here.”

This year’s show features both the M3A1 “Stuart” tank and the Bell UH-1 Iroquois “Huey” helicopter.

The Museum of Flight notes that the Huey was a multipurpose utility helicopter that was widely used during the Vietnam War. The aircraft were primarily used for troop and cargo transport, medical evacuations and aerial attack.

The Stuart was first built in the 1940s and provided to the British as part of the Lend-Lease Act. It saw action mainly in North Africa and the Philippines, according to information from the National World War II Museum.

“There’s a lot of Stuarts sitting in front of libraries and city halls, but there’s very few running ones,” said Waechter.

Visitors to the show will be able to take a ride in the Stuart. The Huey, coming to Jay County from Columbus, will be doing static displays and flyovers, and may offer rides as well.

Other vehicles already parked at Museum of the Soldier awaiting this weekend’s show include a Dodge M3A1 Scout Car, owned by Sam Snell of Indianapolis, and a Dodge WC56 Military Command Car, owned by Jeff Middendorf of Franklin County, both from 1942. The command car was used by the North American Treaty Organization after World War II and still has its NATO lettering and colors.

The show — admission is free — will also include a M41 Walker Bulldog tank and a variety of other vehicles and military items. There will be a field of flags in the grassy area north of the Women’s Building in honor of the 20th anniversary of those who lost their lives in the 9/11 attacks.

A large search light will also be turned on after dark Friday.

“You’ll be able to see it clear to New York,” Waechter joked.

In addition to the show itself, there will also be a military vehicle convoy/parade Saturday morning. It will begin at the fairgrounds at 10 a.m. and run west on Votaw Street, south on Wayne Street, west on Main Street, north on Meridian Street and then east on Votaw Street back to the fairgrounds.

Waechter said he’s hopeful to have a crowd out for the parade and to see the vehicles on display at the show.

“There’s a lot of good history,” he said. “There’s things from mostly World War II, Korea and Vietnam. But there will be some earlier stuff — stuff they won’t see anywhere else, especially if they want to see it operating.

“We’re going to get a lot more people this year. They like the fairgrounds. They like the setting and the fact that it’s a very relaxed atmosphere. And there’s room to drive around a little bit and show off some equipment.”