Local Heroes Days Begins In Monticello

(KNSI) – For the next three days, you have a chance to show your appreciation for the men and women who protect and serve. Local Heroes Days is the product of conversations between Vietnam War veterans and organizer Scott Kunz.

“Really, where this comes from is how the kids today in school really don’t get educated about what Vietnam was about. The truth is how these guys were treated when they came back from ‘Nam — it’s really, really similar to what we’ve been doing to our police officers the last few years.”

Kunz says there is plenty packed into each day of the second annual event held at Open Road RV in Monticello. The demonstrations are mostly about having fun. Kunz says he hopes it helps create conversations and humanizes those in law enforcement, firefighting, nursing, and the military.

Kunz says everything is free and the dealership actually closes its business to put on Local Heroes Days. Kunz says he cherishes the interactions between participants and kids and how it transforms their opinions of cops and others.

He jokes, “Probably the highlight for me is when a young kid comes in and there’s a police officer there, it’s a hundred dollars for ice cream. But if you meet the officer, it’s free. So, these kids, you see the apprehension and somewhat of a fear turn into fun.”

Attendees can see the inside of patrol cars, ambulances, and watch a Life Link helicopter touch down each morning at 10:00. Kunz highlights a special demonstration for Saturday.

“The firefighters — those guys do the Jaws of Life demonstration on Saturday. Ryan Automotive in Monticello donates a vehicle and then we get a volunteer to sit in the car while they cut it apart.”

To learn more, visit here.

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