The ceremony took place at 1:30 p.m. on the fairgrounds Midway, near the Veterans Recognition Wall and the nation's largest free-flying American flag. Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita delivered remarks honoring military service members, gesturing skyward as he spoke. Vocalists performed during the program, which concluded with an aircraft flyover as the crowd looked on.

Among those honored was a Vietnam-era veteran, Larry Burkhart, who served as a bomb/ordnance loader on aircraft, who spoke with ABC57 Photojournalist Bobby Crain:

"It is very touching and heartbreaking to me. The four months that I was flying in and out of Vietnam, we were bringing out the victims of whereabouts at North Vietnam was going to just kill everybody, we would just open up the back of the aircraft and tell everybody that could get on to get on, and then we would look and say, okay, I think we can get another 25 people on. They traveled from the Vietnam to the Philippines without saying a word, and whenever we got there, several of them got off the airplane, knelt down on the ground, and just kissed the ground, because they know that they weren't going to be dying. I look at that, knowing that we still yet have young men and women that are willing to lay down their lives to keep our country free."

He recalled witnessing widespread suffering during the war, described how North Vietnamese forces treated civilians, and said he helped South Vietnamese citizens escape. He expressed hope that younger generations would hold a deeper respect for veterans and a fuller understanding of the nation's history and the sacrifices made on its behalf. An attendee said it felt fitting for veterans to be honored during the 250th anniversary, adding that the chance to talk with people and hear their stories was the most meaningful part of the day.

The ceremony unfolded against the wider festival, where families gathered at food trucks, children played, and a baseball game continued nearby — everyday scenes of American life set in relief against the service members' sacrifices. As one of numerous local commemorations tied to the national milestone, the event reflected how Indiana communities marked the anniversary, offering a local entry point into the broader Indivisible 250 story.