It started off simple enough, with Betty Jeanne Maddocks, owner of Janson's Clothing Store, seeing a fun idea on Facebook to honor veterans.

With “Little Soldiers of Honor,” families take a small, plastic army figurine and place it in a spot of honor at home, perhaps on a mantel or a shelf.

“It's to remind them daily about the men and women serving our country, and their families waiting at home,” Maddocks said. Maddocks has her own Little Soldier at home, as does her employee Barbara Abbott.

“It's sitting on my bookcase next to the flag honoring my grandfather and grandmother,” Abbott said. “They were both nurses in the service.”

In partnership with local author Greg Latimer, Maddocks has been running the Little Soldiers campaign since late May. She estimates that so far she has given away “maybe 5,000.”

Businesses can start their own “Little Soldiers” campaign by stopping into Janson's Clothing and picking up a starter pack, which has a poster for the window, instructions and a pack of soldiers. Latimer was able to make the packs because of an anonymous donor.

The goal of Latimer and Maddocks is that by Veterans Day, there will be 100 businesses in the region participating.

“It's fun to hear stories from families,” Maddocks said. “Kids want to take a handful from the basket outside, but their parents and grandparents stop them and help them understand what we're trying to do and why it's so important.”

For more information, call 380-9912 or email glatimer@lcnme.com.