Countdown is two days
Milan ready to celebrate
Mary Margaret Moorhead - Staff Writer

After two years of preparation the Milan community is ready for blast off. The Sesquicentennial Celebration officially begins on Thursday, July 1, and concludes on Sunday, July 4.

According to the committee chairs, all systems are "go," and only the weather remains in question. So far, everyone is thinking positively that sunny skies will prevail for the thousands expected to attend. Milan residents are especially eager for good weather for the Lions Club Fourth of July Parade on Saturday, a number of concerts in the community park, and for the fireworks at 9:00 p.m. Saturday in the park.

Press Contact Melissa Cook says she is expecting media representatives from all over the country for what she terms the triple anniversaries of the town's founding, the real "Hoosiers" Indiana State Basketball Champs, and the crowning of Miss Indiana.

Members of the original 1954 Milan Indiana basketball team will be in attendance as will the current Miss Indiana pageant winner and the 1954 Miss Indiana, Milan native Cecilia Dennis.

A full schedule of events ran in Thursday's Versailles Republican and again in today's Osgood Journal. The half-page complete listing of events is sponsored by the Rising Sun Regional Foundation.

Highlights include a 3-on-3 basketball tourney at 9:00 a.m. on Thursday in both the high school and middle school gymnasium; a golf tournament on Friday at 8:30 a.m. at the Milan Golf Links; a fashion show from bygone eras from 2:00 till 4:00 p.m. on Friday at the high school cafeteria.

Opening ceremonies are scheduled for 5:00 - 6:00 p.m. on Friday at the Milan VFW Post. A teen dance for grades 7-12 takes place that night from 6:00 till 10:00 p.m. at the Milan American Legion.
Hot air balloon rides begin at 6:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Milan Community Park and continue until 10:00 a.m. A men's slow pitch softball tournament and also a horseshoe tournament will take place most of the day Saturday in the park.

The gigantic Sesquicentennial Parade gets underway at 10:00 a.m. with entries scheduled to register at 7:30 a.m. Milan Volunteer Fire Department will host a chicken dinner from 11:00 till 2:00 p.m., and the Milan First Baptist Church will serve homemade ice cream and other desserts from 4:00 till 7:00 p.m.

A community worship service led by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and local ministers begins at 10:00 a.m. on Sunday in the Milan High School gym and will be followed by the community choirs' performance at 11:00 a.m.

Throughout the four-day event many children's activities are scheduled; tours of the schools are planned;
and history exhibits will be open. Live bands and gospel music groups will perform in the park on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. A talent show will take place at 2:00 p.m. Sunday in the Milan Middle School gym.

Members of the Milan '54 team will be at the '54 Milan Museum on Friday, July 2, from 3:00 till 5:00 p.m.; on Saturday, July 3, before and after the parade; and on Sunday, July 4, from 1:00 till 4:00 p.m.

A souvenir shop will be open daily in the Milan Middle School and will feature sesquicentennial afghans, t-shirts, golf shirts, hats, golf balls, baby bibs, miniature basketballs, and many other items.

Many clubs and organizations will be serving food during the celebration with a food court to be available daily in the community park. Horse drawn rides will take visitors "where you need to go."

MARY MARGARET MOORHEAD PHOTO

Ann Smith, who is in charge of the souvenir store, and her helper Patty Ludeker, display the Milan Sesquicentennial afghan designed by Natalie Gilpin of Versailles with the help of committee members. Ann notes that several have already been sold, but she will have others at the souvenir store in the Milan Middle School throughout the four-day event.