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What began as a decorating project turned into a prom memory that will last a lifetime.

Lebanon senior Kyle Coomer and his mother, Kim, were searching the Internet for camouflage material to use in Kyle's bedroom when they stumbled upon camo material for formal wear.

When they saw it, they knew what that had to do.

"Let's make a dress and a vest out of it," said Kyle, who was preparing for his senior prom, held Saturday, April 12 at Paul Brown Stadium in Cincinnati.

The order was placed, and the work began for his mom, who finished the clothing at 3 a.m. Friday, the day before the dance.

One would think Kyle's girlfriend, Leah, would have thrown a hitch in the plans, but she was all for it, donning a two-piece camo dress, featuring a "safety orange" ribbon on the back of the lace-up top.

"(Leah) likes that kind of stuff," Kyle said. "She likes to fish."

Kyle is a hunter and used to wearing camo, so showing up to his prom wearing the vest, equipped with a cowboy hat and an orange tie, was no problem.

Kim, whose husband wore cowboy boots to their wedding, said she supported the kids' choices, despite the extra work. Kyle said he and Leah will likely wear the same outfits to her prom at Madison Plains High School in London, Ohio, about 50 miles east of Dayton.

"These kids, they have the attitude that they don't care what other people think," she said.

Kyle didn't have to worry too much about his classmates' opinions because they also enjoyed the original attire. Some asked where they go get similar camo clothing.

"Everybody loved it," he said. "People I didn't even know came up to us to get pictures."

Contact this reporter at (513) 696-4507 or rycook@coxohio.com.

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