ASHLAND — Many in the small crowd at Ashland’s Central Park bandstand looked around and wondered “Where is everybody?” as they enjoyed one more chance to be with family and friends heading to Afghanistan with the 201st Engineer Battalion.

While the crowd wasn’t large, it was friendly and appreciative. Bill Baird, a Florida business owner who wrote a $49,000 check that made the day possible, was the focus of much of that appreciation.

“Go on. Give him a big hug,” Paige Fugate told her six-year-old niece Caden Ronnebaum as the little girl waited for a chance to squeeze Baird around the neck for helping bring her daddy, David Perry, and her uncle, Daniel Fugate, home for a few days before they deploy overseas.

Fugate said it is difficult to let Baird know what his generosity means to families of 201st soldiers.

“It felt so great to know somebody is that good,” she said. “We just wanted to thank him for what he did.”

“I’m just glad to be able to make this donation. I just thought it thought would have been shameful for these guys to not get to come home for this six days,” said Baird, owner of Saturn Machine & Welding, as people passing by said “Thank You,” or paused to have their photo taken with him.

“God bless them all and bring them home safely,” he said.

Baird, a Kentuckian who now lives in Florida and often works with AK Steel in Ashland, decided to get involved financially after catching “a glimpse” of a story on CNN about the local soldiers. To pay for bus tickets to get everyone in the 201st home again before they leave for Afghanistan, he added his $49,000 to $11,000 already received from the United Way of Northeast Kentucky.

The local soldiers also got the unexpected leave with thanks to $1,000 donations from both AMVETS Post 95 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1168. Army officials also notified them the four day leave had been extended to six days.

For Saturday’s benefit, which raised money to be used for things such as sending care packages to soldiers and preparing for their welcome-home party a year from now, entertainment was provided by performances from Chase Yates, Bill Yates, Kathy Hughes, Kerry Beach, Steven Faulkner, Three Fold Chord, Country Junction. Clara the Clown also volunteered for duty, and spent the afternoon passing balloons out to children in the bandstand area.

Raceland based rock band Bronson Bush and The Youngbloods earned the crowd’s attention with a standout show that included the full-on rock star playing and performance of 10 year old guitarist Isaac Stephens. The guitarist was joined by his younger brother Aaron, 5, on drums for the song “Jailbreak.”

Among those who took time to enjoy the show were San Diego residents Tim and Kathy O’Hara, who were in town visiting his sister, Nan.

Local companies are also finding ways to show their hometown support for local soldiers.

Roger Keeton, Ashland Starbucks manager, said “I grew up in Ashland. My father and several relatives served in the National Guard or other branches of the military. Additionally, several Ashland Starbucks partners (employees) have family or friends serving in the military. A few partners have friends in the 201st.”

The local Starbucks staff decided to host a coffee donation drive to show their support for the local soldiers. For every half pound of Starbucks coffee purchased, the local store will match the donation and route a full pound of coffee to members of the 201st. The company will also match all one-pound purchases and has already made arrangements to get the coffee to the troops. Local participants will also have the opportunity to write a personal message of support on each bag of coffee they donate.

“We know that troops receiving Starbucks coffee really enjoy reading the personal messages written on the bags of coffee,” Keeton said.

TIM PRESTON can be reached at tpreston@dailyindependent.com or at (606) 326-2651.