Share a rose on Friendship Day

Greencastle Mayor Sue Murray (seated, left) signs a proclamation designating Sept. 23 as Friendship Day, in which members of the community are encouraged to get a dozen free roses and pass out 11 of them to family, friends and strangers. Sponsors include Jenny Sullivan of Eitel's (seated, right) along with (from left) Brian Cox and Amy Trusty of the Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, Michelle Collins with Asbury Towers, Greg Cook with Ivy Tech Community College, DePauw University student Garrett Yorn, Rhonda Brotherton with the Putnam Inn, Brooke Trissel with Mill Pond Campus and Sue Frazier with Hopkins-Rector/Bittles and Hurt funeral homes. (Banner Graphic/Sabrina Westfall)

Friendship Day 2015 is set for Wednesday, Sept. 23.

The event is being sponsored by Eitel's and Co. Florist, Greater Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, Asbury Towers Retirement Community, Hopkins-Rector/Bittles and Hurt funeral homes, Ivy Tech Community College, Mill Pond Health Campus, The Game Warehouse, Putnam Inn, First Financial Bank, PNC Bank, POET Biorefining and Duke Energy.

The event is intended to spread friendship, goodwill and community spirit among Putnam County citizens.

Starting at 8 a.m. Wednesday, approximately 4,000 roses will be given away in dozens with one stipulation -- that those who pick up the roses, keep only one for themselves to enjoy and give the 11 other roses to 11 other people.

Roses can be picked up at most sponsor locations aside from Duke Energy and POET Biorefining.

Each year the roses go faster, so the sponsors want to remind everyone to come as early as possible before they are all gone.