AVHC News
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.
Party with a Purpose
Please join us for an evening of mirth and merriment as we partner with “Party with a Purpose!” Help us to honor our military heroes!
Inside the Protestant Chapel
The Protestant Chapel, before and after. It took a lot of work to get the Chapel restored to it's original use. Today, it serves the spiritual needs of veterans on a daily basis. (Before photo courtesy AVHC volunteer Robert Makley)
Lincoln’s Promise Event
Thanks to everyone who joined us for today’s Lincoln’s Promise event at the historic Putnam Library at the Dayton VA. You can help us bring this memorial of The Great Emancipator to reality by donating to the AVHC or by purchasing a memorial brick.
Patriot Freedom Festival 2018
Join us at the Patriot Freedom Festival May 26-27 from 11 am to 6 pm. See you there!
13th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival – Celebrating the 150th Anniversary of the Soldiers Home!
Our 13th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival is May 27-28, 2017 from 11AM – 6PM both days! The kick-off for the event is the Opening Ceremony on Saturday, May 27, 11 AM on the historic Band Stand, at which we will celebrate the Dayton VA’s 150th Anniversary with noted...
Dayton to become home to National VA History Center
Dayton has been selected to become the home of the National VA History Center. To learn more, take a look at this article in the Dayton Daily News:
Dayton VA 150th Anniversary Celebrations
The Dayton VA is celebrating its 150th Anniversary this year with events paying tribute to the Soldiers Home, the Veterans and their families who served and sacrificed for the past 150 years! Activities began in January and continue through December. Visit...
13th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival
May 27-28, 2017 – The Patriot Freedom Festival in 2017 celebrates the 150th Anniversary of the Dayton VA Medical Center, which was then known as the National Home for Disabled Volunteer Soldiers. The 2017 event, our 13th Annual Festival, will focus on 150 years of...
Grotto Garden Party
Our Garden Party in the Grotto was a great success! Many came to discover the beauty of the Grotto Gardens at our “Edwardian” period party. Great food and entertainment was provided as well as a charming setting and distinguished company on a lovely afternoon. Many...
12th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival
Our 12th Annual Patriot Freedom Festival is May 28-29, 2016 from 11AM – 6PM both days! The kick-off for the event is the Opening Ceremony, at which we will honor and recognize our “Women in the Military.” Throughout history women have not be recognized nor credited...
100 years ago…
Pancho Villa (5 June 1878-20 July 1923), a Mexican Revolutionary commander of the Constitutionalist Army’s “Division of the North,” was wreaking havoc against the Mexican Government. Villa is credited with decisive military victories in Mexica, leading to the ousting...
2015 Reflections 2016 Goals
January is traditionally a time to reflect on the past year and set goals for the year to come. A number of our American Veterans Heritage Center members were invited to send in their thoughts and we thank them for their submissions… Dennis Samic, AVHC, Executive Vice...
Do You Know The History Of Veterans Day?
World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” - officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice or...
What Will You Do On Veterans Day?
With Veterans Day just a week away, many are making plans to honor our veterans at various venues across the Miami Valley. What will you do on Veterans Day? Miami Valley Military History Museum 9AM – 5PM, Tours and Open House; located at the Dayton VA Campus on Ohio...
“Getting To Know You”
Our volunteers have been hard at work! They set up information tables at many venues over the last month, to spread the word about AVHC and our activities and events, including the two 5K Runs we have on the VA Campus and the Patriot Freedom Festival. We are working...