So many people came to the dedication of the Veterans Walk of Honor and Army stage band concert at the armory in Marietta Wednesday that the crowd spilled out from the lawn across Front Street.
The walk, located on the west side of the armory steps, is paved with bricks bearing the names and years of service of veterans who served in American wars and conflicts.
"I'm looking for my husband's (Kurt Stolpa) name," said Audra Stolpa, 38, of Marietta. "He served in the conflict with Beirut. He was in the Navy from 1980 to 1988."
Marietta resident David Waterman IV, 55, waded through the crowd of people on the walk, looking for the name of his father, David Waterman III.
"This is very nice," he said about the walk. "My family bought a brick (for my father), and we brought the family out to see it."
Rick Schaad, 37, of Churchtown, said he was very impressed with the turnout at the dedication.
"I think more people are still going to show up," he said before the ceremony began. "(The walk) looks very nice. I like the way they've got it set up with a fountain in the background."
Ken Bigley, 60, of Marietta had his name on one of the bricks.
"My wife bought it for me," he said. "It is just fabulous the way the community came together to build something to honor the veterans. I've got a brick at one of these in Monroe County. They have a pretty nice one up there too."
About 1,600 bricks have been sold so far, and people can still order them, Mayor Michael Mullen said.
"There is room for many more," he said.
The walk wasn't the only thing drawing people downtown.
The Army National Guard's 122nd Army Stage Band performed patriotic numbers such as "God Bless America" beforehand, then switched to a jazz band format with classics from the likes of Glenn Miller and Tommy Dorsey. The concert was sponsored by the city and The Marietta Times.
Cathy Luthy, 51, of Beverly got off work early to attend the concert. Her son, Jason, is a trombonist in the band.
"This is only the third time we've seen him play," she said. "It's very special that he gets to come here."
The colors were presented by the Marietta chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. Mullen told the assembled crowd the walk was dedicated to all of the Washington County veterans and anyone else who died in the name of liberty.
Halfway through his speech, he asked all of the veterans in the audience to stand and they were given a round of applause.
"From the bottom of our hearts, we thank you," he said.
State Rep. Jennifer Garrison, D-Marietta, and Sen. Joy Padgett, R-Coshocton, also said a few words.
"I can't think of a better place to do this than in front of the first National Guard post in Ohio," Padgett said.
"The armory holds our history, and this block of honor holds our hearts," Garrison said.
