Splish Splash is honoring hometown heroes for Hero Appreciation Week.

The water park in Calverton was not able to hold the event last year because it was closed due to the pandemic.

Hero Appreciation Week honors first responders, health care professionals and military personnel.

The park is offering discounted tickets Monday through Friday for $39.99 for all hometown heroes and up to five of their guests.

Additionally, for the first time ever, visitors had a chance on Tuesday to meet some hometown heroes.

The Riverhead Fire Department, Riverhead police and military officers participated in the "Touch A Truck" event, which gave visitors the opportunity to get up-close looks at fire trucks, ambulances and other first responder vehicles.

Lane Bubka, an attorney by profession and a volunteer paramedic in Riverhead, said when a child is sick or hurt, it creates an atmosphere of anxiety. He said the "Touch a Truck" event presents an opportunity for first responders to show children that they are there to help them and their parents during moments of crisis, so in the event an actual crisis occurs, the children won't be as anxious.

U.S. Army Sgt. Alex Evans said the event also presents an opportunity to inspire children to pursue careers in adulthood as police officers, military officers and EMTs. He explained that always being near military presence while growing up in Southold inspired to join the armed forces once he was old enough to join.