AVHC News
The Grotto Gardens Update
The Grotto Gardens are now fully open to the public! Please maintain social distancing and keep a mask handy (not required outside on the VA property) to be considerate. We’ve been working hard and are proud to be able to invite visitors in. If you do want a guided...
Patriot Salute 2020 is Cancelled
Earlier this year, American Veterans Heritage Center announced the cancellation of the Patriot Freedom Festival which was scheduled May 23-24, (now scheduled for May 29-30, 2021) At that time, we were already planning the Patriot Salute 2020 for September 12-13, and...
Grotto Gardens are now open to the public
Come enjoy but keep it safe!
Lincoln Statue Moved to Dayton
Today, we moved the newly forged Abraham Lincoln Statue from Urbana to its temporary home at Copp Systems warehouse in Dayton Ohio. The Urbana Fire Department and Police department gave the statue a great sendoff. The motorcade included an official escort by the...
Moving Lincoln Statue
May 1, we went to the Coopermill Bronzeworks in Zanesville to pick up our Lincoln Statue in order to deliver it to the Studios of Mike Major.
2020 Festival Cancelled
Due to the Covid 19 outbreak, we have decided to cancel the 2020 Patriot Freedom Festival
2020 Patriot Freedom Festival Planning is Underway
Planning has started for this year's Patriot Freedom Festival. The festival will be held on the grounds of the Dayton VA on Memorial Day weekend, May 23 and 24. We're having a planning meeting Saturday, March 14, at 10 am. It will be at the Putnam Library building. If...
Let’s Welcome Mark Murdock
Members of the American Veterans Heritage Center Board of Trustees attended the Welcome Reception of Mr. Mark Murdock as the new Director of the Dayton VA Medical Center. The reception was held in the Dayton VAMC hospital tower on February 18. Mr. Murdock retired as...
Statue is at the Foundry
Things are on schedule with the Lincoln Statue. We are getting closer to installing it on the grounds of the Dayton VA. Sculptor Mike Major says that the statue is now at the foundry, Coopermill Bronzeworks, in Zanesville. Here's Mike's update about what will happen...
Grottto Gardens Website Update
We have just completed integrating the Grotto Gardens website with the main AVHC website. You can still use the domain name daytongrottogardens.org to reach the Grotto Gardens information. The Grotto Gardens volunteers will continue to update the gardens content on...
We’re Making Progress
The Dayton Daily News published a nice article about the progress that we've made on the Lincoln Statue. There's also a nice video interview with sculptor Mike Major. And, Mike sent some photos of the sculpture being disassembled for shipment to the foundry. He also...
Lincoln Statue Fundraiser Video
AVHC and the Lincoln Society of Dayton are working with Mike Major to create a statue that will honor Abraham Lincoln's founding of what is today's Veterans Affairs. Learn more about this historic moment and how you can help. Learn more here....
Lincoln’s Promise – Mike Major
Sculptor Mike Major talks about his inspiration for the statue honoring Lincoln's Promise. Fundraising is underway. https://youtu.be/BfWY4sxLOQE
Fundraising Starts Soon
We are getting ready to start the major fundraising efforts for the statue commemorating Lincoln's Promise to those who served our country. Judge Walter Rice reminds us of the importance of their sacrifice....
Honoring Lincoln’s Promise
Hundreds of thousands of soldiers were wounded during the American Civil War. Thousands of them required ongoing treatment after the war. To be sure they were cared for, President Abraham Lincoln made the promise to “Care for him who shall have borne the battle.” On...
160 Years Ago Today
160 years ago today, Abraham Lincoln gave his now-famous speech in front of the Montgomery County Courthouse in Dayton – very close to the spot where Mike Major's statue of Lincoln now stands. During the civil war, thousands of soldiers were wounded and one of...
Lincoln Statue Project Update
AVHC and the Lincoln Society of Dayton are working with Mike Major Sculpture Studio to honor President Abraham Lincoln. One of Lincoln's final official acts before his death was to create what became today's VA, and Dayton was one of the first three sites. Mike's...
Patriot Freedom Festival was a Great Success
One final group of photos of this year's Patriot Freedom Festival. Mark your calendars for next year's PFF. Thanks to Bob Makely for the photos. And thanks to everyone who volunteered to help make the PFF a huge success this year. [gallery columns="2" size="large"...
More Fun From the PFF
More photos from this year's Patriot Freedom Festival. If you're interested in helping plan next year's festival, we'll be starting soon. Message us to volunteer.
Another Batch of PFF Photos
This year's Patriot Freedom Festival was such a great event. Here are some more photos from Bob Makely.
Happy Independence Day!
On this day, when we celebrate our independence, let's all take a moment to thank those who gave of themselves to protect our freedom.
More Photos From the Festival
We have some more photos from the Patriot Freedom Festival. Thank you Robert Makely for the photos. We'll share some of them over the next few weeks.
We’re Already Planning for 2020 PFF
One final batch of photos from the 2019 Patriot Freedom Festival. Thanks again to Judd Plattenburg for the photos. We had a great time this year. Look for us in 2020! And remember, if you'd like to volunteer with the PFF or anything else that AVHC is working on, just...
A Great Turnout at PFF
We had such a great turnout at the Patriot Freedom Festival. Thanks to everyone who visited us, all of the historic reenactors and all the volunteers.
More From the PFF
A few more photos from the 15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival.
More PFF Photos
Some more pictures from the 2019 Patriot Freedom Festival.
15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival
We had a really great time this year at the Patriot Freedom Festival. We thought we'd share some photos of the event with you over the next few days. Thanks to Judd Plattenburg of Oregon Printing for the lovely photos.
Last Day of the Patriot Freedom Festival 2019
The final day of the 15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival is today. We're open from 9 am to 6 pm. Free admission and free parking. Each period reenactment group explains and teaches how our Veterans lived during their war-time, what they used, where they served. In...
It’s Lunchtime at the Patriot Freedom Festival
The Patriot Freedom Festival is in full swing at the Dayton VA. There is so much going on here. Stop by and observe Memorial Day weekend by learning more about the men and women who served our country. You can get all the details here. In addition to all of the...
Patriot Freedom Festival Starts Today
Today's the day - the 15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival opens at 9 am at the Dayton VA. It's fun for the whole family. Free parking, free admission. What a great way to observe Memorial Day Weekend - learn about our history and the role our vets played in...
PFF Starts Saturday
The 15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival is Saturday and Sunday at the Dayton VA. There's so much to see and do, including all of these historical reenactors, historic societies and living historians. 101st Airborne Division WWII Reenacting Assoc. 27th Infantry...
PFF Starts Tomorrow – Free Admission and Parking
The 15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival starts tomorrow at 9 am at the Dayton VA. There's a lot going on and it's all free with free parking. In addition to all of the historic events, we have all of these things going on too: Barber, Steven Adams – free haircuts for...
Another Reason to Come to the PFF
Another reason to come to the 15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival May 25-26 is the Ohio Motor Pool. Many of the military vehicles on display at the PFF are courtesy of the Ohio Motor Pool. The Ohio Motorpool is a Military Vehicle Preservation Association (MVPA)...
Daughters of the American Revolution at PFF
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), Jonathan Dayton Chapter will be at 15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival on May 25-26. The Daughters of the American Revolution, founded in 1890, is a volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to keeping America...
5th Ohio Light Artillery Reenactors Coming to PFF
5th Ohio Light Artillery will be at our 15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival May 25 and 26. Free Admission and Free Parking. The Fifth Ohio Light Artillery LTD is a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating the public on Civil War history; they re-enact an actual...
Patriot Freedom Festival
15th annual Patriot Freedom Festival. May 25-26, 9am-6 pm. FREE admission and parking. Our theme this year is “Honoring Our Military Heritage.” We will have dozens of historical reenactors bringing to life past eras of American history. Food trucks. Kids activities.
101st Airborne Reenactors at PFF
101st Airborne WWII Reenacting Association will be at our 15th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival May 25 and 26. The mission of the 101st Airborne WWII Reenacting Association is to accurately portray the average combat soldier of WWII in tactical exercises with other...
Grotto Gardens Featured at National Event
The historic Grotto Gardens at the Dayton VA Medical Center is front and center in a new national exhibit at the U.S. Botanic Garden in Washington D.C. from January 31 through October 15, 2019. The exhibit, Celebrating New American Gardens, showcases 21 gardens from...
Volunteers Needed for Festival
We're in the planning stages for our biggest event of the year - the Patriot Freedom Festival. This year, it will be held May 25-26 and we need volunteers! If you help out with any part of the event, we'd greatly appreciate it. Plus, you are guaranteed to have a good...
Please Welcome our New AVHC President
AVHC is happy to announce that Glenn Costie is our new president. Glenn is the former CEO of the Dayton VA Medical Center and is currently Chief of Veteran Services at Ohio's Hospice. Please take a moment to welcome Glenn. And let's also take a moment to give a hearty...
Happy Martin Luther King Day!
Today we celebrate the legacy of an American hero, Martin Luther King, Jr.
Putnam Library Photos
The interior of the Putnam Library is full of beautiful detail, highlighting the need to restore this historic structure.
Fisher House Dedication
Dedication of the Fisher House at the Dayton VA Medical Center. Kudos to Fisher-Nightingale House, Inc and the Foundation for their quick response to this vital need at the Dayton VA.
AVHC’s new Video
We have just finished a new video that highlights the mission of AVHC. Thanks to Dave Neuhardt for hosting it.
Photos from the Beer Garden Party
The AVHC Beer Garden Party last night at Troll Pub was a great success. We filled the place, had a lot of fun, and raised some funds for our mission of preserving and restoring the historic buildings at the Dayton VA. Thanks everyone for coming out for this Party With...
A Beer Garden Party!
$10 cover charge at door will benefit the mission of the American Veterans Heritage Center. Imagine: "In the chill night air our Civil War ancestors sat around their campfires sharing stories of the battlefield, remembering their fallen comrades and thinking of home....
Fisher House Dedication
Exciting news! The dedication for the Fisher House has been set - Wednesday, Nov. 9, at 2 pm. You can get your free tickets to the dedication on Eventbrite. Click Here to Learn More. Here's a description of the event: You are cordially invited to the Dayton VA...
Gettysburg Gate is Open
The Gettysburg entrance is now open once again. If you use 35 West, take the Gettysburg exit. You will now access the Dayton VA straight across from this exit! Once in, your first left is the road to the Grotto Gardens. Parking is available in the lower area of the...
Good News From the Dayton VA
Good job, Richard! Keep spreading the GOOD NEWS! https://www.facebook.com/DaytonVAMC/videos/2163630090316523/
In the News
A story about the Dayton VA's Home Chapel in the Dayton Daily News.