“This was a big show,” Joe Pingitore said as he watched dozens of people enjoy scoops of ice cream and oldies music while walking around sun-covered Johnston War Memorial Park Sunday. “It’s our 21st year, but you wonder how long this event will last.”

Pingitore, who was greeting people from Connecticut and even parts of Massachusetts, was talking about the Ocean State Vintage Haulers’ annual show, which featured everything from old-time U.S. Army vehicles to high-roof pick-ups to ageless fire trucks.

But at present, the Ocean State Vintage Haulers (OSVH) have no plans in shutting down.

“We hope we’re around for a long, long time,” said Pingitore, who serves as the non-profit group’s president. “It’s really amazing how many people enjoy just walking around and looking over the many different size vehicles.”

It was indeed that way Sunday, when people of all ages – including little children – made their way around the park looking at the wide variety of vintage vehicles that were part of the OSVH show.

Moreover, show-goers learned about the OSVH and – when asked – about the national organization that’s also dedicated to preserving any and all old-time hauling vehicles.

“We’re actually the local chapter of the American Truck Historical Society,” said Pingitore, who owns an ageless chain-driven Sterling. “We’re all getting up there [in age], and there doesn’t seem to be that many younger people getting into this sort of hobby. And remember, all the vehicles are privately owned.”

Sunday, those vintage vehicles filled almost all available space around the perimeter of Johnston War Memorial Park.

“It’s kind of impressive the way they’ve got these trucks grouped,” said a man in his mid-30s who waited in line to get his son some ice cream. “The kids will certainly enjoy those fire trucks.”

Even some members of the Rhode Island Antique Fire Apparatus Society – who’ll host their 11th annual Show on Sunday, June 21, at Glen Farm in Portsmouth – drove their shiny red trucks to Johnston and made quite an impact, especially during the pumping water demonstration.

Ron Nunes, who lives in Lincoln and owns a spiffy 1955 American LaFrance 700 Series Pumper, used his vehicle to send rainbows of water pumped from the park’s pond back out over the water.

“That’s especially appealing to most of the children here,” offered Richard Quetta, the public relations person for the Antique Fire Apparatus Society’s show. “We’ll have all kinds of pumpers at our show.”

Sunday’s “best in show” award went to Dave and Margaret Philbrook for their shiny yellow 1972 Auto Car.

Margaret Philbrook serves as the OSVH secretary, while Pingitore is the president and treasurer. Ron Rossi, who owns and operates Rossi’s Christmas Tree Farm in Cranston, is the group’s vice president.

The OSVH, who’ll have another in-club show and barbeque in October on the spacious grounds of Rossi’s Tree Farm, is a member of the American Truck Historical Society, which was founded in 1971.

“Our national organization was formed to preserve the history of trucks, the trucking industry and its pioneers,” Pingitore said. “The society has grown to be international in scope. We have members in 23 countries, and nationally we have members in all 50 states.”