SHILLINGTON, Pa. – For months, 18-year-old Kyla Love has been working on a passion project.
All inspired by someone close to her heart.
“My pop-pop’s my best friend,” said Love.
After her grandfather, Richard Dietrich, was diagnosed with dementia, Love said there was one thing he never forgot.
“When he couldn’t remember our names, he didn’t remember how to eat, he didn’t remember anything like that — he remembered that he was a veteran,” Love said.
She said one of their favorite activities is driving together.
That’s when she noticed the Hometown Hero banners in Exeter Township.
“He loves looking at them. He likes to think that they’re him. They’re not, but we’ll let him believe that they are,” Love said.
Now, she wants to bring those banners here to Shillington and Cumru Township, as a way to honor his service in the U.S. Army, and all our veterans and current service members.
“I wouldn’t be standing here. I wouldn’t have the freedom to advocate for this reasoning or for anything else that I want to do if it wasn’t for the fact that these people fought and laid down their lives,” Love said.
Even though her original proposal to Shillington Borough failed, she’s not taking “no” for an answer.
“I’m hoping to walk away with more certainty that I’m going to get those banners hung for him, for someone that’s so special to me,” Love said.
Now, with help from state Rep. Dave Zimmerman and Shillington American Legion, Love’s goal is to propose her plans in person at a Shillington Borough Council meeting.
So one day, the banners her grandfather looks at will actually be of him.
“None of that life that we all love so much would be here if it wasn’t for them,” Love said.