2024 Hometown Heroes Play Under the Lights

Hannah Buchert

For the Sun-Telegraph

DALTON--For the fourth year in a row, The Hometown Heroes game took place under the lights in Dalton on Thursday, October 3rd with over 40 participants. This year, the game was held with the Leyton Tailgate Party. Flag Football was the game of choice, and members from the Dalton Volunteer Fire Department, Gurley Volunteer Fire Department, & Cheyenne County Sheriff's Office were the heroes that teamed up with Leyton Kindergarten through 6th Graders for an evening game. The game was part of the Thursday Night Tailgate Party during Leyton's Homecoming Week activities.

The Hometown Heroes Game started four years ago when Hannah Buchert decided to get a game for her town T-Ball team after their season was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Buchert contacted the Dalton and Gurley Volunteer Fire Departments and the Cheyenne and Morrill County Sheriff's Departments to participate. The first year was expectedly challenging for a new event and as the details were worked out, the community unity and the smiles the kids and adults had throughout the game proved it was a worthy endeavor. The community rallied around the kids the first year and came out for them to ensure they had a fun game for their "season." After the turnout of the first year, it was decided that the tradition had to keep going. 2024 was the first year Flag Football was played instead of T-Ball, and everyone involved from the participants to the spectators had great fun. The kids loved sharing the field with Hometown Heroes and seeing them on the same playing field was a big thrill. The kids had a sense of fun and safety with the heroes and it gave them a chance to see them in a different light. It was also obvious that all of the heroes who participated also loved playing with kids under the lights. Local businesses again sponsored the event and provided the team shirts for the game. This year the Leyton Tailgate Party provided a freewill donation supper before the game. It was a great night of community congregation and a fun atmosphere for the Dalton and Gurley communities.