Camas High School Junior Sherman Bynum made an unforgettable entrance to his junior prom held at the Portland Art Museum in Oregon by driving a World War II light armored vehicle, also known as a tank. The story has gained national attention and local admiration for the creative and unique way that Bynum paid tribute to his father.
Bynum had been dreaming of driving a tank for years and with prom around the corner, he decided it was the perfect opportunity to fulfill that goal. He created a GoFundMe page to raise the necessary funds, which included the cost of renting and transporting the tank to the museum, totaling $1,000. The campaign was able to raise a total of $1,675.
After calling multiple places, Bynum was able to connect with Steven Greenburg, a collector of military gear who had a tank he was willing to rent out. Greenburg quickly agreed to the rental and within 15 minutes, the deal was worked out.
Originally, Bynum and his best friend Sam Tetro were the only ones planning to ride in the tank. However, after finding out they could use the tank for prom, Bynum asked a girl named Mycah Chala to join them with a sign that read, “I’d be tankful if you went to prom with me!”
According to Insider, Bynum’s father was a “history buff who loved tanks.” He also suffered from Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia. Bynum shared his idea with his father in February, and his father found it to be the funniest thing he had ever heard. Unfortunately, a few days later, his father passed away.
Bynum decided to go ahead with his plan, knowing that it was a way to honor his father’s spirit of adventure and do something positive in his memory. He hopes to continue the tradition of creative and exciting prom entrances by skydiving into prom next year.
Local and national news outlets have been charmed by Bynum’s unique and heartfelt prom entrance. The story has served as a reminder of the power of honoring loved ones in special and creative ways, and the importance of following through on one’s dreams and goals.