GREENSBURG — It was the Fourth of July and Veterans Day all rolled into one. But for the most part, it was Marine Sgt. Dakota Meyer's Day.

Literally. In his first public event since Meyer received the Medal of Honor on Thursday at the White House, local officials proclaimed Sept. 17 henceforth to be Dakota Meyer Day to honor him and his fallen comrades in Afghanistan.

In what had to be a heady experience for the 23-year-old claimed by both Adair and Green counties, a crowd estimated at 20,000 by parade organizers packed downtown Greensburg to see Meyer, who was grand marshal for the Cow Days Parade. Greensburg's population is 2,200.

"I hear they may be having a football game today in Lexington," said Campbellsville radio personality Joel Bennett, who gave a running commentary over loudspeakers during the hour-long parade. "But this is the place to be today."

Before Meyer could get many words out in his address to the crowd, a woman shouted, "We love you!"

"Thank you. I love you all, too," Meyer said.

Then, returning to his written address, Meyer spoke about the attention he has received since becoming the medal's third living recipient for heroic actions in Afghanistan or Iraq. Meyer saved 36 lives during a firefight in Afghanistan in 2009.

"It's been overwhelming and I'm proud to call Kentucky my home," he said. But, he added, "Many people call me a hero. The sound of that word makes me cringe. I’m no hero. Heroes are those who stand every day and do the right thing. Heroes are those who died or were injured serving this nation."

But the crowd and politicians would have none of it, and lavished all manner of gifts, plaques, proclamations and designations on the Green County High School graduate. (Meyer grew up on a farm in Adair County but finished his high school years in Green County.)

"I just know this," said Gov. Steve Beshear. "He is bringing honor to our state. And the courage and the bravery that he showed is unparalleled in the recent history of our country."

With that, Beshear bestowed upon Meyer a gift that only a governor can give.

"Dakota," Beshear said, "I know you were a sergeant, but you're now going to be a Kentucky Colonel."

The governor also gave Meyer a U.S. flag and a Commonwealth of Kentucky flag that flew over the state Capitol on Thursday, the day he received the Medal of Honor.

Green County Judge-Executive Misty Edwards and Greensburg Mayor Lisle Cheatham announced that a new street will be named for Meyer. It will be near a new county fire and EMS station to be built in Greensburg.

Local officials also unveiled a new welcome sign that will be erected to let visitors know that Greensburg and Green County claim Meyer.

Greensburg Rotary Club President Steven Shaw presented a $1,000 check to the Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation. Meyer wants to raise $1 million by the scholarship's 50th anniversary on May 28, 2012, to educate the children of wounded Marines.

But amid all the waving flags and hoopla, Meyer found time to do little acts for people.

During the parade that featured mule teams, farm tractors and emergency vehicles, Meyer bent down from the reviewing stand to sign Louisvillian Robert Sullivan's cap with the Marine motto.

"Semper Fi, thanks for your support," Meyer wrote on the cap's bill. "Semper Fi" is an abbreviation of "semper fidelis," a Latin phrase that means "always faithful."

And as a phalanx of state troopers escorted Meyer through the crowd to the Greensburg Baptist Church for a meet-and-greet event, Meyer stopped to give an autograph and pose for photos with 8-year-old Mikayla Stewart.

Among the flag wavers in the crowd was Helen Vaughn, 79, of Campbellsville. She said she came to see Meyer because "he's such a fine person and he's done such a great thing. … He stands for a lot that our country doesn't have any more."

Gene Mosz, 79, of Black Gnat, a community that straddles the Green-Taylor County line, said Meyer's humility and modesty makes him all the more appealing.

"It's an honor for him and even for us to be here," Mosz said.