Monument, Paintings Part Of Milan's Bicentennial Celebration

By Mike Perleberg (Milan, Ind.) – Two projects in Milan have been official endorsed as Indiana Bicentennial Legacy Projects. The first is a monument being spearheaded by Alexander Volz of Boy Scout Troop 631. As his Eagle Scout project, Voltz is working to place a granite Milan Indiana World War II Honor Roll Monument at the Darren Baker Memorial Park. The monument will bear the names of those from Milan who served their country during World War II. The names will be placed in alphabetical order and easy for anyone to search for and find the name of a loved one, friend, or even themselves. Volz’s project is being sponsored by the Milan Lions Club. Another Milan effort being recognized as an official Bicentennial Legacy Project is the artwork of resident Alice Whitlatch. Her oil paintings of Indiana landscapes were chosen as one of the 69 latest Legacy Projects last week. Whitlatch’s paintings will be on display at the Milan branch of the Osgood Public Library September 6-17. Local students’ artwork will accompany Whitlatch’s. Milan has a few other things happening as part of Indiana’s bicentennial celebration. Colorful hanging baskets designed to look like the torch can be seen throughout town. When the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay visits town on the afternoon of Saturday, September 17, local dignitaries including Milan 1954 basketball team member Bobby Plump and other local people will carry the torch. A town picture will be taken at the Milan ’54 Museum at 2:00 p.m. Residents are asked to join hands for Hoosier Hands Across Milan when the torch enters town around 3:30 p.m. At 5:00 p.m., the Milan VFW will host a bicentennial party sponsored by United Community Bank. The torchbearers will be honored. Author James Madison, who wrote “Hoosiers: A New History of Indiana”, will speak and sign his book. You can find a complete list of Indiana’s Bicentennial Legacy Projects at http://www.in.gov/ibc/2351.htm.