WAYNE COUNTY, HENRY COUNTY (September 25, 2016) – It was day fifteen of the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay on its 3,200-mile journey across the state. The torch relay is the most far-reaching event of the Indiana Bicentennial celebration and will touch all 92 Indiana counties. Today’s festivities in Wayne and Henry Counties, were coordinated by local organizing committees comprised of community leaders and volunteers.
Sunday afternoon kicked off at Wayne County’s historical landmark, the Levi Coffin House; a fitting start for torchbearer Janice McGuire. Janice and her sister Saundra Jackson, of Fountain City, were recently presented with the Bicentennial Beacon Award from the Indiana Office of Tourism Development for their nearly 40 years of unwavering service and volunteerism to the Levi Coffin House.
Celebrating its Bicentennial in 2006, the City of Richmond is home to four colleges – Earlham College, Ivy Tech Community College, Indiana University East and Purdue University Polytechnic.
During the 30.5 miles the torch traveled through Wayne County, several torchbearers represented the institutions including Chancellor Katherine Cruz-Uribe (IUE), Chad Bolser (ITCC), and Avis Stewart (Earlham).
The celebration continued as the caravan made its way to Veteran’s Park where Mayor Dave Snow addressed the gathered crowd ahead of taking his turn as torchbearer along the National Road.
Centerville, the birthplace of Governor Oliver P. Morton, elected in 1960, served as Indiana’s leader during the Civil War, was next along the route. Torchbearers Daniel Wandersee and Jim Resh each rode in a shiny red Model T until taking the torch to Tammy Hughes, awaiting in the Boys and Girls Club mini-bus.
With friends and family gathered along the way, runners, walkers and drivers made their way through Pennville, Cambridge City, finally arriving in Dublin where Mary Walker; Executive Director of the Wayne County Convention and Tourism Bureau was taking torch selfies with her team, family and local citizens gathered for the final leg in the county.
Henry County, the 48th on the 3,200 mile journey across the Hoosier state is home to the Indiana Basketball Hall of Fame as well as 21 torchbearers participating in the Bicentennial Torch Relay.
Starting in the Knightstown square, the local committee hosted an ice cream social ahead of Lee and Bernice Stacey igniting the torch for their county and taking off down US 40 in a 1930 Chrysler convertible. This would be the first of several vintage vehicles for the torchbearers.
Additional modes of transportation included a festively yellow 1966 Chrysler 300, an antique jeep complete with red rims, an antique bicycle, a vintage Maxwell, and the Knights of Pythias float waving USA, Indiana,and Bicentennial flags.
As the torch made its way from Knightstown, it passed through Dunreith and Spiceland before arriving in the City of New Castle, the county seat, named in honor of Virginia patriot Patrick Henry.
After nearly a one mile run by Torchbearer and Henry County Council President Nate LaMar, Dee Dorr carried the flame into the New Castle Fieldhouse, the largest high school gymnasium in the world; sporting a capacity of 9,235. Lots of community members were gathered to see the pep band and cheerleaders perform as Indiana’s 1973 “Mr. Basketball” and local NBA player Kent Benson took his turn as the next torchbearer.
In front of a festive crowd gathered on the square, Mayor Greg York proclaimed September 25, 2016 as Indiana Bicentennial Day for New Castle.
The beautiful Sunday in east central Indiana was capped off at the Memorial Park Saddle Club where the final torchbearer, Nancy Deitz, atop a horse, used the torch to light a community bonfire before sending it onto Delaware County.
The Bicentennial Torch Relay will resume on Tuesday, September 27 in Delaware, Randolph and Jay Counties.
On October 15, 2016, the torch will be used to illuminate an everlasting light for Indiana that will serve as an homage to the state’s first 200 years and an inspiration for generations of Hoosiers to come. The everlasting light will be part of the new Bicentennial Plaza on the west side of the statehouse.