CORBIN — At Tuesday’s annual “Touch-A-Truck” event at Corbin’s Rotary Park, several Corbin Public Library employees wore T-shirts, encouraging youngsters to “Dream Big…Read.”

And with over a dozen big trucks, vehicles and even a helicopter on the grounds, the experience of feeling and seeing those machines also allowed young minds to dream towards their future.

Some 250-300 children got that chance, and for 5-year-old Hannah Hunley, of Gray, the opportunity was priceless. She first got registered, and then with her grandfather Charles Hunley at her side, Hannah made a beeline to the booth where the Holler Crawlers Off-Road Club of Bell County had a few of the all-terrain vehicles on display, just waiting for a girl like her to climb aboard.

“I touched an ATV, Papaw!” Hannah exclaimed to her grandpa, while other kids quickly came towards the booth.

Sitting comfortably on the ATV’s seat, Hannah told others nearby the touching display was a sight to behold, even if she’d been on one before.

“My cousins have one, and they ride it when they come down from Lexington,” she said. Then Hannah looked over to her granddad and asked him, “I would like to take one home with me.”

Before he could answer, she heard a noise in the sky.

“Look, Papaw! The helicopter!” shouted Hannah, which quickly got her attention as the Air Evac Lifeteam chopper was about to circle over the area, preparing to land in a nearby field.

A group of youngsters and their parents were waiting for the copter to land. And with a Corbin Fire Department truck and personnel keeping an eye on them, the chopper slowly and smoothly came down.

Moments later, the group was allowed to come closer, with the kids ready to climb inside.

To 9-year-old Logan Smith, of Corbin, the computer display and copter controls were quite cool.

“It’s the first time I’ve seen a helicopter on the ground. It was weird when I went in because it was a new experience. But it was cool, very cool. Looking at the computer was awesome, and the way the helicopter looked with the American flag colors was really cool. I’d like to do that someday, to fly in a helicopter and help save lives,” Logan noted after he climbed out.

The Air Evac Lifeteam crew watched it all from a few feet away. One of them said that looking and touching the very machine that moves through the sky gives the kids a rush they’ll never forget.

“They’re all excited about seeing a helicopter. Usually we do about one function a week, depending on the weather. And when they come out to see it, it’s really good to watch their faces. The kids do pretty good when they see us fly in. They can’t wait,” added Tommy Matney, a Flight Paramedic with the Air Evac Lifeteam.

For some children, the event was a “career day” as a school bus pulled into the park’s parking lot. Not only could they touch the vehicles, but they could dream big about what they’d like to be someday.

The event’s sponsor, the Corbin Public Library, said that was the idea. Not only did the day serve as the big finish to the library’s Summer Reading Program which ended Tuesday — having a large group of trucks and vehicles from several sources encouraged them to think about a future career, and to keep that dream alive.

There were plenty of vehicles in the parking lot to give them some food for thought.

A Whitley County EMS ambulance stood a few feet away, its doors open to invite boys and girls into the world and work of a first responder. Nearby, a Bookmobile from the Whitley County Public Library gave the kids a chance to check out just how far one could go if they sat down to read. And the sounds of a siren and flashes of blue lights invited children to walk over to the Kentucky State Police cruiser across the lot.

“We’ve got stickers! The good boys and girls get stickers! Who wants one?” Trooper Don Trosper of KSP Post 11 in London hollered out to the youngsters gathered around his car.

Several shouts of “I do!” “I do!” “I do!” were quickly heard. The children filled inside to get behind the wheel, honk the horn, turn on the blue lights, while one boy asked Trosper if the back door locked as he got in.

“Not this time,” Trosper replied, as the boy smiled.

Many of the children were good little lambs. Over 60 of them belonged to the “Little Lambs” group at Grace on the Hill Church in Corbin. One of their chaperones said it took three trips from the church to bring them down to the park. And when they got there, the kids were ready to take in the displays.

“Some of them are wanting to go up in the bucket trucks. They want to see the helicopter and touch the fire truck. The children enjoy it because they’re normally not allowed to touch these kinds of trucks and vehicles. Here they can touch pretty much when they want to,” said Renee Smith, one of the Lambs’ chaperones.

One boy already had his head in the clouds. The youngster found the two lift trucks, belonging to Corbin City Utilities, parked parallel to each other. Each one had what looked like a long, lanky arm with a bucket at the top, where workers got in to repair downed power lines during storms.

“That’s huge! It’s pretty high up. I’d like to get on top of one,” exclaimed 7-year-old Michael Elliott, of Keavy, as he looked straight up at the two big trucks.

About five minutes later, all eyes focused on a Humvee belonging to the Kentucky National Guard. Scores of kids surrounded the military vehicle, but a boy and girl being towed by their mother in a bright red Radio Flyer wagon weren’t paying attention. Wearing a pair of sunglasses, 3-year-old Phoebe Nedlo and her little brother Zephyr were inside the wagon, a little curious and pretty tired after seeing the sights.

But it was a good kind of tired, said their mom, Leigh Nedlo. The family moved to Corbin in May, after living in Marienville, Pa., located in the northwest part of the Keystone State.

“We’ve really enjoyed today, and we’ve really enjoyed this summer here. Our family found the library’s summer reading program very much to our liking,” Leigh Nedlo added.

As the noonday sun began to bear down, several kids found comfort in the shade, where cold bottles of water and face painting awaited them. The action was fast and friendly, as Danella Malloy of the library staff was putting the finishing touches of painting a paw on one boy’s cheek.

“We’ve lost count of how many people we’ve had here. It’s been real busy, and it seems all good this morning. A good turnout, good displays and lots of happy children. It’s a great way to end our summer reading program,” Malloy pointed out.