National Night Out brings first responders and community together in Waynesboro

Excited kids ran across the grass at Memorial Park in Waynesboro after the LifeLion helicopter landed on Tuesday, Aug. 13.

That’s one reason organizers are glad they postponed the local celebration of National Night Out by a week.

See the pictures: Waynesboro Police Department hosts National Night Out at Memorial Park

Bad weather on Aug. 6 would have grounded the life flight from Penn State Health’s Hershey Medical Center, while washing out the 14th community observance. Aug. 6 also was at the peak of the oppressive heat wave.

“We erred on the side of caution,” said Kim Green, Waynesboro Police Department administrative assistant and lead organizer for the event. “The weather is so much nicer and there’s no threat of storms.”

An estimated 500 to 600 local residents enjoyed the pleasant summer evening, getting to know police, fire and other EMS representatives and learning about community service organizations.

“It’s a way for the community to interact with first responders in a positive environment,” said Green, noting they often meet in stressful situations.

Watch the action: National Night Out in Waynesboro includes K-9 demonstration

K-9 officers were on hand, too, with demonstrations by the Waynesboro Police Department’s Bushta, with officer Aaron Huntington, and the Maryland Department of Public Safety and Correctional Services ’ Drogo with Sgt. Tyler Chappell and, as the decoy bad guy in padded gear, Sgt. Kris Davis.

Kids could climb aboard fire trucks, try on police gear, win prizes and collect freebies, while adults could get information from agencies ranging from the Franklin County Coroner’s office and the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources to the Waynesboro Area YMCA and New Hope Shelter.

Free hot dogs, pizza and, everyone’s favorite, Antietam Dairy ice cream rounded out the evening.

This article originally appeared on Waynesboro Record Herald: National Night Out brings first responders and community together in Waynesboro