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PLYMOUTH – For a second year in a row, Faith Baptist Church has held a Hometown Heroes event held on a Sunday morning between Veterans Day and Thanksgiving.
Pastor Bryan Dodson said the timing of the event was perfect, in that it reflected an attitude of gratitude for the service of veterans, civic organizations, first responders, local officials and exemplary citizens.
This year, Dodson added an extra award to the event’s agenda – one honoring Donna Coughlin, who assisted an elderly neighbor when she was attacked by a dog recently.
Coughlin was home on her lunch hour when she noticed her neighbor and immediately intervened.
“I know you think you did what anyone would do,” Dodson said. “But, you put yourself out there to help someone else.”
Frank Coughlin, Donna’s husband and the borough’s recently appointed mayor, said his wife’s actions were consistent with the borough residents’ commitment to their neighbors and to the community.
Coughlin, only in office for a month, said he was more than happy to attend the event, at which he was also honored, to make himself available to borough residents.
“This is what a small town is,” he said, looking around at attendees of the event lingering over coffee and refreshments, chatting with their neighbors.
Coughlin, who previously served on council, said he plans to regularly attend community events.
“I’ve attended six (community events) since I’ve become mayor,” he said.
Josh Evans, a member of the fire department and also an honoree, said it was an honor for him and other fire personnel to be recognized by members of the community.
“They get to find out about what we do,” he said.
Alec Ryncavage, recently elected council member who at 18 is the youngest member to ever sit on the board, took opportunity to get to know residents of the borough.
Ryncavage said he was impressed with the event’s turnout.
Mary Jarrett, who represented the Friends of the Library at the event and attended last year, said she enjoyed the message and hoped the event would become tradition.
“You can see the growth from last year,” she said.
Aptly, Dodson’s sermon was about the biblical Good Samaritan.
“The story which emphasizes the benefits of helping others,” he said, “defines the character of the borough and the theme of the Hometown Heroes event.”
