Hero Tree

The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University is partnering with libraries across the state of Indiana to present the Our Heroes’ Tree initiative. Through this program, libraries are able to honor the contributions of past and present service members while also creating an awareness of military families affected by current military deployments.

The Jasper Public Library and the Ferdinand Library will be displaying a tree in October and early November. The trees will feature handmade ornaments created by community members to honor the service members in their lives. The Libraries also has resources provided by the Institute to help the community provide support and understanding to local servicemen and women and their families.

To participate in the Our Heroes’ Tree initiative, simply create a handmade ornament honoring the service member in your family or community from past and present wars, conflicts or peacetime operations. Bring the ornament to either library during the month of October where it will be placed on the tree with other ornaments. Stories about individual service members can also be submitted and displayed in a binder near the tree.

All ornaments submitted at the Jasper Public Library and the Ferdinand Library will be a part of the Virtual Indiana State Heroes’ Tree.

For more information, contact Library Director Rita Douthitt at 482-2712 or rdouthitt@jdcpl.lib.in.us or Trina James, Ferdinand Library at 367-1671 or tejames@jdcpl.lib.in.us.