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Behind the Lines

Originally published July-August 2025 · pp. 11–13

Behind the Lines — lead photograph from the original article

An Event for All Ages One of the show’s greatest strengths is its ability to connect generations. Young families, seasoned collectors, and educators roamed the fairgrounds together, each discovering something new. Living history displays captivated the imagination, whether it was watching a WWII GI demonstrate a .30-caliber machine gun with blanks, or hearing President Lincoln recite the Gettysburg Address to a enthusiastic audience.

Other highlights included: • • • • •

George Washington drawing a crowd with his riveting account of the 1776 Delaware River crossing. Camp Chase Fife & Drum Corps and the 73rd OVI Regiment Band filling the air with period music. WWII’s 801st Medical Air Evacuation Squadron demonstrating battlefield evacuation techniques under fire. Brigade of the American Revolution with Rev War cannon firing Civil War surgeon Dr. Gill reenacting a field hospital amputation, thankfully, no one fainted this year.

Elizabeth Topping award winning display, “Misbehaving – Soldiers and Civilians During the Civil War.”

Camp Chase Fife & Drum.

Dr. Doug Gill and Dr. Ralph Reiher perform a Civil War hospital scenario.

Ohio Civil War Show Committee: Teresa Drushel, (Bill Combs, Best Award winners from left to right: Ingrid Holzwarth, James Koch, of Show Award), Wayne Williams, Ken Baumann, Elizabeth Topping, Kevin Kinney, Charles Baylis, and Greg Williams. Bill Combs, Richard Wolfe, Randy Setty, and Karl Withrow.

The 73rd OVI Regiment Band.

Jim Bender’s mortar display.

Bob Cairns, Commander of the Brigade of American Revolution.

James Koch won a Judges Award for his display entitled “Bolivar Troop 1st Miss Cav Company H.”

Antique firearms of all types were available throughout the show.

Photographs from the Original Article

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Captions and credits appear in the article text as originally printed.

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