True colors of the U.S. – observertoday.com

Jun 27, 2026
Submitted Photos From left to right: Emily Harris, Lee Sank, and Carla Rodriguez decorated fire hydrants throughout the village of Brocton to celebrate the nation’s semiquincentennial.

BROCTON — In honor of the 250th birthday of the United States, three volunteers in the village took the time to decorate fire hydrants all around the village. Lee Sank, Emily Harris, and Carla Rodriguez painted hydrants red, white, and blue to celebrate the semiquincentennial.
“They look amazing,” said Mayor Craig Miller.
When Miller was approached with the idea, he admits he was “a little skeptical at first.” Now that the group has followed through, Miller and the rest of the Board could not be more pleased.
“They’re beautiful,” said Trustee Kari Doino.
Some of the hydrants were in better shape than others when the crew took them on, but even the most rusted hydrants in town were given a glow to celebrate the nation’s birthday. Sank and his crew used Behr paint and primer to decorate the hydrants, ranging all across the village of Brocton. The patterns are unique to the hydrants, but all clearly send the message of celebration of our nation.
Sank said he wanted to get the project done before school ends, so that students would see the hydrants decorated on their way to and from school. He and his group did just that, finishing before the final week of school.
“I appreciate your efforts,” Miller said to Sank. The Village Board shook Sank’s hand one by one to thank him for his work.
Fire hydrants throughout the village of Brocton were painted red, white, and blue to honor the United States ahead of its 250th birthday later this summer.

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