The Purpose of the Veterans Memorial Civic and Convention Center of Lima/Allen County is to commemorate the services of all members and veterans of the armed forces of the United States and permanently recognize those service members from Allen County who made the ultimate sacrifice. As a county agency, the VMCCC also serves as Allen County’s convention facility and center for performing arts, community, civic and patriotic gatherings. The VMCCC is governed by an 11-member Board of Trustees, appointed by the Allen County Commissioners under Ohio Revised Code 345. The VMCCC is the principal example for Allen County when capacity and capability of hundreds of dedicated, civic-minded and action-oriented private citizens came together over the course of a decade, from the early 1970s to 1984. These individuals—the Silent Giants and Big Thinkers—illustrate the ability to dream and subsequently construct what has become a primary asset to quality of life and economic development.