‘Small-town USA and big-time patriotism’

BY SHAWN DIGITY (twitter@DIGITYnodoubt)

On Saturday, Sept. 11, local veteran Dirk Harkins put together the first Veterans/First Responders Jamboree to honor fallen soldiers, veterans, and first responders and remember those who perished 20 years ago on 9/11.

And the event was a success in Harkins’ eyes; it was created to raise awareness and bring in proceeds to help veterans, and he felt they did just that. “For our first annual event, I’m real excited how this thing turned out. Four months ago, three and half months ago, my girlfriend Amy and I were sitting in the kitchen drinking a cup of coffee watching the news, and they were showing an event in Texas, and they said it was the most patriotic day in Texas. And I was like, ‘Hmm, it’s not a competition, but it is now.’ We can have the most patriotic day in America right here in Harrison County, Ohio.” The Jamboree was born with that single scintilla — Harkins had already started planning it.

While the event was named a jamboree, it had a somber context being on the 20th anniversary of Sept. 11, 2001. But Harkins wanted it to be a source to recognize, commemorate, and help veterans and first responders in Harrison County.

Harkins reserved the Sally Buffalo barn, and it turned into a perfect day for an outdoor event: sunshine, blue skies, and a nice breeze. The event kicked off with breakfast — free for veterans and first responders. While it was by-donation for nonveterans, Harkins wasn’t going to turn anyone down; that wouldn’t have aligned with the Jamboree’s message: helping people. Even if the focus was more on post-combat veterans who return home and fight with depression, anxiety, PTSD, or suicidal thoughts, the event’s goal was simply to help people.

He wants to keep the proceeds in the Ohio Valley so that people can see tangible results of their efforts — so that the community can see who and how they’ve been able to help. “I just can’t wait to let everybody see that we can help somebody right here locally in the Valley. That’s where they’re going to be like, ‘OK, this is cool. We were part of that.’”

While Harkins felt the jamboree was a hit, he noticed little nit-picks for making future versions better. There were a lot of surprisingly discrete factors that he hadn’t considered. Whether it was a knot in the rope pulling up the American flag or the parade procession being out of order, Harkins took note of all the little things. Additionally, other people chimed in with recommendations here or suggestions there, and he took note of those, too — all so that he could take the improvements into next year and beyond.

Harkins didn’t tip his hand, but the gears have already been turning for the 2022 Jamboree. While he kept most of the ideas close to the vest, he’s operating under the impression that the Jamboree will grow. Numerous people have approached Harkins about helping in the future, so he’s expecting a “bigger, better” jamboree next year. An old adage says that it takes a village, and Harkins agreed with the expression: “It took the village to make this successful. I just can’t thank the community and the people enough. I really stress that. They made an amazing event, and I can’t wait till next year.”

But 2022 is just one year; there aren’t plans to slow down anytime soon. “We’re not just going to stop this because this was the 20th anniversary of 9/11. We’re going to do this every year to pay respects to those who died and perished on that day, those who fought for our country and perished since that day, and those who are on the frontlines every single day today protecting our freedoms. We want to acknowledge them every year, just tell them, embrace them, and tell them we love them and thanks for what they do. And that’s our whole goal. If we do that, then we’re successful,” Harkins explained.

While Harkins discussed the event’s turnout, the inspirations and motivations for his vision, and lessons for the future, he used a single phrasal mot juste that summed it all up: “smalltown USA and big-time patriotism.” The mantra is reflected in Harkins — and many other members of the Harrison County community. And it bled into the atmosphere of the Jamboree.

There was the car show, chicken dinner, parade, and much more, but deeper than that, there was the sense of “small-town USA and big-time patriotism.” Dozens of American flags lined the fence around the baseball field — all flying and snapping in harmony as the wind got ahold of them. The westerlies were blowing them backward, and they looked much like the American flag patches worn on Army uniforms; it represents the idea of moving forward.

The line of flags was representative of the small-town patriotism captured by the event, but it had suddenly taken on a second meaning — and one that adequately describes Harkins’ ambitions. The concept of moving forward is ingrained in Harkins, and he’s using that to help others. That was the purpose of the Jamboree. But now he’s moving forward to next year and the year after — so that he can help even more people.

“We don’t stop.”