GALION, OH (CRAWFORD COUNTY NOW)—The “stage is set” for two upcoming events designed to highlight Crawford County’s rich heritage and pay tribute to America’s 250th anniversary this year.

The movie “Parachute Nurse” will be shown at the historic Galion Community Theatre on June 29 at 6 p.m., while the Ohio National Guard’s 122nd Army Band will perform at Schines Art Park in downtown Bucyrus on July 6 at 7 p.m.

Both events are free, a collaborative effort by the Crawford County History Alliance (CCHA) to showcase local history and join Ohio’s other 87 counties in celebrating our nation’s 250th birthday with a signature event – “Ohio Goes to the Movies.”

“We can’t think of a more fitting movie to show,” said Elaine Gebhardt-Naples, a Bucyrus native and projects director for the non-profit History Alliance.  “It’s very patriotic, very Americana.”

The film, produced by Columbia Pictures in 1942, is about the Aerial Nurse Corps.  Lauretta Schimmoler, an aviation pioneer and the first manager of Port Bucyrus Airport, plays flight nurse Captain Jane Morgan in the movie.

The movie series features more than 250 movies that showcase Ohioans and their contributions to the film industry as actors, directors, writers, and in other roles.  The films are being shown in various cities across the state through October.

For the “Parachute Nurse” showing, a flight nurse from MedFlight will also be on hand that evening, Gebhardt-Naples said, and informational booths will be set up by the Bucyrus Historical Society and planners of the museum to honor Schimmoler.

The 122nd Army Band – a staple in Ohio since 1944 – performs a wide range of songs including classic marches, patriotic tunes, and fresh takes on modern hits.  Their opening act at 6 p.m. will be local men’s chorus United in Harmony, she said.

Other commemorative events include New Washington’s Bicentennial Craft Show June 20, the opening of a 50-year-old time capsule in Galion on July 4, and a reading of the Declaration of Independence by the Crestline Historical Society, also on July 4.

Local activities will continue through the end of the year, Gebhardt-Naples said, with additional information on the CCHA website:  crawfordcountyhistoryalliance.org