KOAM honors local 4-state heroes

KOAM videographer Ty Parks, left, records an interview between veteran Curtis Weber, center, and reporter Veronica Etecht at the KOAM 4-State Heroes Appreciation Tour at Nevada Auto Mall Thursday.

Gabe Franklin

Local veterans were treated to lunch and thankful recognition Thursday at KOAM’s 4-State Heroes Appreciation Tour at Nevada Auto Mall.

KOAM’s Vance Lewis explained the station had been looking for a way to connect with their viewers and local veterans. When Midwest Ford Dealers became a sponsor of the 4-State Heroes segment, the idea of an appreciation tour was born.

KOAM staff and journalists started the 12-week tour on Aug. 3 at Mike Carpino Ford in Columbus. They were in Nevada on Thursday and will continue holding one event each week until Oct. 19 when the tour concludes with an appreciation lunch at Green Country Ford in Parsons.

In 2005, KOAM TV began a segment during the evening newscast called 4-State Heroes in which they recognized local veterans. The idea came from account executive John Haut.

According to Lewis, KOAM has created a database of more than 3,000 viewable online at https://fourstateheroes.com/. Visitors to the website can nominate a local veteran to be added to the database.

When asked if this would be an annual event, Lewis replied that if the turnout continued to be high, then the event would be held again.