Published: November 06, 2008 11:07 pm      

Honoring vets with Hero Bouquets

The red, white and blue floral arrangements cost $3

An anonymous donor in Peru is keeping alive the tradition of Hero Bouquets, arrangements of red, white and blue flowers designed to honor fallen veterans.

The donor purchased the last 3,500 bouquets from a Richmond company previously involved in the project. The company is going out of business.

The donor has given the bouquets to a group called Honor America’s Heroes Program.

The program will sell the bouquets to anyone in the Kokomo area for $3 each, with half the proceeds going to an organization that helps indigent veterans.

Previously, when the bouquets were sold directly by the Richmond company to the program, they were $6.

Honor America’s Heroes Program was established by Herschel Gulley, a member of Grissom Kiwanis Club in Peru.

Gulley began the program in 2000 when Kiwanis decided to honor veterans and a “significant other” — such as a sweetheart, spouse, mother or widow — through a Veterans’ Day luncheon. The red, white and blue arrangement signifies a veteran’s heart, courage and sacrifice.

The program was introduced at the 2005 Kiwanis International Convention in Hawaii. Clubs across the country were encouraged to adopt the program.

Gulley invites people to donate to the Grissom cause. Groups or individuals wishing to obtain more information on the bouquets can call (866) 228-3835 or (765) 973-9602.

Gulley said the program is also conducted annually around Independence Day and Memorial Day.