Hometown Heroes in Greentown
Hey Kokomo! If you’ve taken the short drive out east recently to see the fireworks, or if you’re planning to head that way next week for the Howard County 4-H Fair, you’ll notice several beautiful additions to the light poles that line Main Street and Meridian Street in Greentown.
Hometown Hero banners now line the streets of the veteran friendly community. The project started back in the winter of 2019, when Mark Lantz and Greg Sumpter (both United States Air Force Veterans themselves) brought the idea to the Greentown Main Street Association. They were met with unanimous approval and went to work coordinating the project by reaching out to families in the community to find the Hometown Heroes to feature on the banners. The project aims to honor current or former military members as well as first responders in Greentown. There are currently more than 55 men and women featured as Hometown Heroes. Two of which, are living World War II veterans, Charles Ormsby and Jean Mallott. With help from Kokomo printing company, Schearer Printing, the banners were printed and hung all over town. The families of the heroes will ultimately own the banners themselves.
“This [project] isn’t a fundraiser, no one is making any money. We’re proud of our Hometown Heroes and we want people to know that Greentown is a veteran friendly community.”
If you’re out in Greentown, make sure you take a few moments to look up at the banners, and recognize the men and women who have sacrificed and serve in our communities.
If you live in Greentown and have a friend or family member you’d like to nominate, there is an online application which can be found on the Greentown Main Street Association’s website, here.
Who are your Hometown Heroes, Kokomo?
