Be Sure to Help Light Ohio Blue This May,
Show our First Responders that You Care!
Every day our police officers and first responders
put themselves in harm’s way as they keep our
families and our community safe and protected.
To honor them we have the Light Ohio Blue
program which takes place each year in May.
The Chamber caught up with Bill Swank, creator
of the program.
Bill Swank is a Federal Agent and also a Law
Enforcement Ambassador for the National Law
Enforcement Officer’s Memorial in Washington
DC.
He explained that he came up with the idea after
someone he knew died in the line of duty.
“After the death of Columbus Police Officer Steve
Smith, who I knew, I wanted to support local law
enforcement any way I could. Around that time a
lot of anti-law enforcement sentiment was
happening throughout the country; much of
which was based on false narratives.” He said
with a somber tone.
“I realized that we had lost a lot of officers here in Central Ohio so I had the idea to light the down-
town skyscrapers blue. Initially I was met with some hesitation, people didn’t think that it could be
done. But once I reached out to the community as a whole I got nothing but support.”
Swank also related that thanks to overwhelming community interest, the program has grown very
much from its humble beginnings.
Four years ago it was “Light Columbus Blue” but we’ve expanded because of the outpouring of
support into “Light Central Ohio Blue” and now “Light Ohio Blue.”
Ways the public can be involved
•
Place a blue bulb on your exterior porch light;
•
Wrap blue Christmas lights around your home or business;
•
Light up your entire home or business with blue flood lights;
•
Place blue ribbons on your mailbox, nearby columns or posts;
•
Wear Blue on May 15
•
Tell your friends, family and neighbors what you’re doing, and post a picture to social media
using #LightOhioBlue
To learn more about the ‘Light Ohio Blue’ program or to get involved please CLICK HERE!
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