Full of history, culture, and recreational opportunities, Marion County really is the Middle of Everywhere! From the rolling rapids of Valley Falls State Park to the Italian influence of local bakeries, there's so much to do while visiting the area. While you're visiting West Virginia, we invite you to join us for the Middle of Everywhere GeoTour! This officially registered tour highlights 20 of our favorite locations in the area, categorized by shops, history, murals, and parks! Find 16/20 caches to qualify for a limited-edition GeoTour coin. Find all 20 to get a unique souvenir added to your Geocaching profile.
For information regarding the GeoTour and a full list of caches, please visit our website.
MOE-GT #01: Visiting Our Veterans
Category: Marion's Multis
Honoring those who served in the Vietnam War, this two-stage multi will bring you to one of the most prominent memorials in the area. Featuring several plaques, statues, and a real US Army helicopter that has flown nearly 5,000 hours in Vietnam, there's so much to appreciate here. Constructed in 1995, this six-ton monument is etched with the names of the 27 men from Marion County who died in Vietnam. The murals surrounding the monument depict the various branches of the military alongside a Huey Helicopter that was flown in Vietnam and the Purple Heart Memorial. The Marion County Vietnam Memorial sits at the entrance of East Marion Park, a unique park featuring one of the only wave pools in the region. We encourage you to spend some time exploring the park and finding the other nearby geocaches.
TO FIND THIS CACHE you'll need to first visit the Marion County Vietnam Memorial located at the entrance of East Marion Park. This area could be busy at times, so please use the waypoints listed below to park legally and safely. Here, you'll explore the variety of memorials, plaques, murals, and installations to answer the questions below. Once you've successfully answered all the questions, you'll receive the lock combination for the final.
LOCK COMBINATION
A = Locate the 'Gold Star Mothers' memorial and find the bronze plaque located on the back (Hint: Dedicated May 27, 2019). In the italicized text, you will see three descriptor words thanking veterans. Now look at the bench to the right of the memorial; you should see three words here as well. The value for A equals the number of letters in the word that appears in both sets of words.
B = Locate the memorial dedicated to the recipients of 'The Purple Heart' and turn your attention to the bricks surrounding the monument. Find the brick dedicated to 'Leroy C Myers'. The value for B equals the number of letters in his title (followed by 407).
C = Make your way to the large helicopter and locate the 'Huey 109' plaque located on the inside display. To the left of the plaque is a crumpled box of cigarettes. The value for C equals the number of letters in the name brand of the cigarettes (2 words).
The final lock combination equals A * B * C
Stage 2 is located on the porch of the Marion County Visitor Center (see waypoints). You are looking for a large ammo can container - it shouldn't be hard to spot. Entering the lock combination you received at stage 1 will grant you access to the logbook and the code word needed for your passport. Please replace everything exactly as you found it and don't hesitate to stop in and ask questions. The director of the CVB is excited to welcome geocachers from all over the world to the Middle of Everywhere!
THANKS FOR VISITING!
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