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Due to once again spending many hours at Heritage Days at our HSJ Online booth under the shelter house, I feel inspired to write a little about the goodness of the event. As well-stated on front of the excellent program, much is offered: “From free concerts, exhibitions, and a Pioneer Village to countless vendor booths and delicious food located right in the heart of the Hope Downtown Historic District, Heritage Days is wonderfully Hoosier and uniquely Hope.”

As I was talking with Mike Harding, he was looking around and started naming all of the not-for-profit organizations serving food. I was pleased to give him the number, 18! Mike has been all over the world as an environmental scientist, and he can't think of many places he would rather visit than Hope. Mike is also a prolific speaker and writer, but his facial expression was worth many words.

His expression was one of many I had the privilege of being in the presence of throughout the packed, filled three-day event on the Square, close to the Square, and at Hauser High School with the WYGS Gospel Sing.

It is difficult to not eat too much at the not-for-profit organizations and local restaurants or not buy too much at the 130 vendors and local businesses. At the same time, there is much to enjoy without spending money, including music, pioneer village, car show, Silly Safaris, Dr. Hope, kiddie pedal tractor pull, fireworks, community worship service, Grand Marshal presentation, parade flyover with six planes, and the parade representing 72 clubs with a total of 130 entries.

How do you measure the number of volunteers planning Heritage Days, their time and effort; over 50 businesses willing to sponsor; the number of volunteers at the food booths; families and friends walking together; seeing people you have not for years; children playing on the playground equipment or entertaining themselves with interesting purchased items; the crowd watching the parade around the Square and throughout the town, the youngest eagerly awaiting the goodies being passed out; handshakes, hugs, laughter, and smiles …? You can't! As Mark Thayer stressed as we were talking, “We must never take such things, or this community, for granted. While in the armed services, I was in many places, but Hope is special. It's home!”

Jake Miller, CEO of Heritage of Hope, when asked his feelings, said, “Another all-around successful Hope Heritage Days has come and gone. Often, it's overlooked how many people and volunteers it takes to pull off a multi-day event of this proportion. The Hope area and its people are a testament of a small community coming together and being all hands-on deck to pull off this event, from the planning months in advance to the execution the last full weekend in September. Hope is a special surprising little town, and Hope Heritage Days is truly a one-of-a-kind event that we hope will continue for generations to come.”

All roads in life for many lead them back to Hope. Several times I heard, “When younger, I always wanted to get away from Hope, but eventually came to the realization how fortunate I was to grow up in Hope.”

I am so glad Bob Rowe, former superintendent of Flat Rock-Hawcreek School Corporation, invited me for an interview for a fifth-grade position in 1974. The rather informal session also involved Howard Epperson, principal of Hope Elementary, as well as John Eudy, janitor, as they worked side by side on the stairway. I proudly share with others that I have never been too far away from a small town, first Lovett in Jennings County and then Hope, 70 years of being very fortunate!