More than 400 people gathered Sunday evening in Bowling Green City Park to hear the community band and to listen as the names of 164 local veterans read aloud for the dedication of the BG Hometown Heroes banners.
The program was a partnership between Bowling Green Parks and Recreation, the Bowling Green Community Band, and the Bowling Green Community Foundation.
The band, conducted by director Thom Headley and assistant director Catherine Lewis, performed in front of Needle Hall. The concert was the first in a series of concerts in the park on Sunday evenings throughout the summer.
Marcia Sloan Latta, president of the community foundation and BG Mayor Mike Aspacher spoke about the Hometown Heroes Banner project and thanked the community for its support. City crews worked to post the banners on Main and Wooster streets, at Wooster Green and at City Park. City staff also created a GIS program to help people locate particular banners and to read about the veterans being honored.
The veterans banner program was undertaken by the BG Community Foundation to celebrate the organization’s 30th anniversary. The foundation provides grants to support programs that enhance the health, welfare and vitality of Bowling Green.
The Hometown Heroes project was made possible by assistance from the City of Bowling Green, Wood County Veterans Services and other veterans groups, and community donors.
After the concert and reading of veterans’ names, the BG Community Foundation served cupcakes and lemonade to those attending.
