Shreve to honor servicemen and women at homecoming celebration

The Shreve Homecoming is a time for citizens to honor all the local servicemen and women who are currently serving in the Armed Forces and to enjoy fun, inexpensive family entertainment. This year the event will take place Friday and Saturday, July 9 and 10.

Friends and family are encouraged to send in the names of loved ones who are currently serving our country. If someone has a name, contact Jayne Neal at 330-567-9229 or 330-464-4382 before July 7, so those people can be recognized.

"One hundred and seven were honored at the 2009 rally," said Bill Fought, publicity chair of the Shreve Business Association. "Shreve has always contributed men and women to the Armed Forces and has honored those throughout our history."

The Shreve Homecoming Rally will be held on July 9, to jumpstart the celebration. Prior to 5:45 p.m., a parade will form at Shreve Elementary and will proceed down the hill on Market Street. Once the parade gets to the stage, the rally will begin.

Another added feature for the Shreve Homecoming will be a special fly-over, Friday, July 9, from the 911th air wing of the Air Force Reserve. Lt. Col. Scot Morgan, of Pittsburgh has confirmed a C-130 Hercules Aircraft will fly over following the singing of the national anthem at 6:30 p.m., when servicemen and women are recognized.0x42790c60

Any family member or friend of a service member can walk in the parade. During the rally, all the names will be read and relatives are invited to come forward to receive the community's appreciation.

Following the rally on Friday evening, the 60s and 70s rock band, Chain Reaction, will perform at 7:45 p.m. on the stage. From 5-10 p.m., the Game Zone will be open to all ages, which is provided by the library and Shreve Business and Community Association.

"The cost to play the games is a quarter and lots of winners make it an affordable homecoming," Fought said. "They changed a couple of the games from last year to please more of the kids and have added a tent with some demonstrations of science and face painting."

On Saturday, the activities open at 1 p.m., and will conclude with fireworks at 10:30 p.m. The Game Zone runs all day long and at 2 p.m., children can take part in a free Kiddie Pedal Tractor Pull on McConkey Street. At 1 p.m., there will be a classic car cruise-in, registration is free and a $5 gift certificate will be given to the first 50 cars registered.

A cornhole tournament will begin at 1 p.m. There is a $25 team entry fee and it's limited to the first 32 teams. Those who are hungry will enjoy the firemen's chicken barbecue, which begins serving dine-in or carryout, at 4 p.m., at the Shreve Fire Department.

The stage will liven up at 3 p.m., when the Schmidt Sisters perform and following them, Ray Carathers' Country Memories Band will play at 6 and 9 p.m. Fire Station performs at 7 p.m., and Kevin King, a magicomedian, will dazzle the crowd at 7:30.

"Two members of our committee had recommended we try to book Kevin King," Fought said. "They had heard of his program and how he reacted with the audience. That was the real reason we wanted to book his magic show."

At 10 p.m., there will be a $300 cash drawing and to conclude the homecoming festival, fireworks will be displayed following the drawing.

"The village council and the local businesses that contribute time and funds for this community party have done so since the early 1900s and it gives our local organizations a good chance to raise some much needed funds for their projects," Fought said. "It has always been a win-win situation."