Montgomery County (City of Dayton) selected as one of 19 American World War II Heritage City Designations

Logo with airplane and boat

Today at 12pm the National Park Service announced the designation of Montgomery County (City of Dayton), Ohio as an American World War II Heritage City. Montgomery County (City of Dayton) is the only designation in the State of Ohio, and it joins only 17 other communities across the United States that received this designation today. The 18 newly designated communities join Wilmington, North Carolina that was designated in 2020.

“The National Park Service recognizes the role this region played in winning World War II. This rich heritage is part of our ongoing community identity and current leadership role in supporting our national defense and the future of aerospace,” said National Aviation Heritage Area board chair Susan Richardson.

The National Aviation Heritage Area led the nomination process and would like to thank the numerous community leaders and historians that supported this nomination. Those partners include:

-Montgomery County and Montgomery County Commissioners
-Wright-Patterson Air Force Base
-National Museum of the United States Air Force
-Dayton History at Carillon Historical Park
-Dayton Aviation Heritage National Historical Park
-Bridget Federspiel

The National Aviation Heritage Area advanced this nomination for Montgomery County as the largest political jurisdiction that could receive the designation under the National Park Service guidelines. “The City of Dayton was critical to the war effort as were the surrounding cities, communities, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base,” said Mackensie Wittmer, Executive Director of the National Aviation Heritage Area.

Because only one political jurisdiction per state can be named an American World War II Heritage City, the nomination required local, state, and federal support. “NAHA would like to thank our elected officials and community leaders who supported this nomination,” said Wittmer.

The American World War II Heritage City program was created by the John D. Dingell, Jr. Conservation, Management, and Recreation Act of 2019.

More information about the National Park Service program is available at: https://www.nps.gov/subjects/worldwarii/americanheritagecity.htm

More information about the Montgomery County (City of Dayton) nomination including letters of support are available by contacting the National Aviation Heritage Area.

 

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The National Aviation Heritage Area is the recognized center of aviation heritage tourism and aerospace innovation, sustaining the legacy of the Wright Brothers. Our mission is to preserve and develop the assets in the National Aviation Heritage Area and promote the heritage and future of aerospace. www.visitNAHA.com

Contact: Mackensie Wittmer, Executive Director | [email protected] | 937.626.8816