Muncie, IN—Volunteers are needed when the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay passes through Delaware County on Tuesday, September 27th. According to local relay coordinator, Nancy Carlson, one or two volunteers will staff each spot where one Torch Bearer hands the torch to the next.
Total, the county needs 24-48 volunteers between the hours of 9:00 and Noon on September 27th. Anyone can volunteer, although children will be in school at that time. The work is easy, mainly serving as a human sign post so the caravan will stop at the right place. Volunteers can bring a chair to their assigned position. Other volunteer opportunities may pop up. The first 24 volunteers will receive a free Bicentennial Torch Relay t-shirt. Volunteers should go to the Torch Relay website at http://www.in.gov/ibc/2345.htm to volunteer online.
Delaware County will have 24 torchbearers to carry the torch on Tuesday, September 27, 2016, from 9 a.m. to Noon. Then the torch moves on to Randolph County. Here is the Delaware County list in alphabetical order:
Stefan Anderson, Dale Basham, Jeffrey Bird, William Broyles, John M. Craddock, Allie Craycraft, Barbara Ellis, Jessica Feick, Jud Fisher, Bobby Graves*, Delyn Harty-Isom, Alan Holdren, Michael Lunsford, Oscar Nunez, Cade Orchard, Terri Panszi, Rea Riggin*, Nathan Sloan, Stan Sollars, Bea Sousa, Dennis Tyler, Laura Williamson, Jack Williamson, Alan Wilson.
* Denotes posthumous selection. Gail Kuhns will carry for Bobby Graves. Eli Riggin will carry for Rea Riggin.
Torchbearers were nominated by the public and selected by local committees on a county-by-county basis. More than 4,000 torchbearer nominations were received. Those selected are Hoosiers who demonstrate exceptional public service, excellence in their profession, acts of heroism or volunteer service to their neighborhood, community, region or state.
Dale Basham tries out the 4.5 lb. torch for the upcoming Torch Relay. Photo provided.
The Relay is patterned after the Olympic Torch Relay and is designed to connect Hoosiers everywhere during the bicentennial year. The unifying nature of the torch relay underscores the achievement, influence and aspirations of Indiana and its people while symbolically passing the torch to future generations of Hoosiers. The torch relay route was charted by a committee of representatives from multiple state agencies and the private sector. The route showcases locations of natural beauty, local interest and historic significance.
The Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay will start Friday, September 9, 2016 in Corydon, Indiana’s first state capital, and culminate with a celebration on Saturday, October 15, 2016 on the grounds of the Indiana Statehouse in Indianapolis. The torch relay will touch each of Indiana’s 92 counties during the 3,200-mile journey across the state.
To follow the Indiana Bicentennial Torch Relay on social media, visit INTorchRelay on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Local contact for Delaware County’s participation is Nancy Carlson at ncarlson@bsu.edu.
