Driving home from an appointment in Seymour a week ago, Diana Ray happened to look up and see the veterans banners hanging on light poles along two blocks of West Tipton Street.
She said she gave a little shout and was glad to be in stop-and-go traffic so she could look closely at the banners.
“I think they turned out beautifully,” she said. “Donna Booth and her team at Prestige Printing in Columbus did an outstanding job for us.”
A week before Memorial Day, 16 banners were placed on light poles in Seymour and nine were placed on light poles in Crothersville. The latter ones are along Armstrong Street.
Some are in honor of deceased veterans. Others are tributes to veterans or active military still living.
This new initiative was led by the Fort Vallonia Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution.
Ray, who is the regent for the chapter, and Ruth Ann Rebber spearheaded the effort and spent time visiting with town or city councils to see which Jackson County communities would be interested in participating. All they would have to do is give permission to hang banners and provide the manpower to place them.
“It took several months for the approvals to come through,” Ray said. “It was actually a pleasant surprise to hear that we received the green light. We knew the project was a great idea because we had seen it executed in other areas, but we had to wait for Seymour and Crothersville to decide it was a good idea, too.”
Once they were on board, community members were given an opportunity to buy a full-color, two-sided, heavy vinyl, 30-by-60-inch banner for $120 to pay tribute to a person from any branch of the military from any American conflict who is living, deceased, KIA, POW/MIA or currently active. The banner would include a picture of the veteran in uniform and their branch.
The banners will remain up through Veterans Day, which is Nov. 11.
“Seeing these banners hanging was such a rush of gratitude to those who supported the project, thanks for the service of the veterans and real pride when I saw my dad’s banner,” Rebber said. “Seeing all of them on the street was awe-inspiring. The city did a great job with new hangers and the placement of the banners. A special thanks to Chad (Dixon) and Donavon (Blanton) at the department of public works.”
Ray said it’s always meaningful to have the support of the local community with an outreach and recognition project like this.
“We want to honor our veterans at other times besides on Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and this project is a great way to do this,” she said. “My hope is that we can build on this in years to come and have more opportunities to show what the DAR is all about.”
As people see the banners, Ray said she wants them to think of veterans they know or are related to and ask how they can be recognized next year through the banner project.
“Hopefully, it will also give folks a reason to pause and be thankful for their service,” she said. “We only have one Gold Star (killed in action) represented in this installation, but we know that many suffered adverse effects after serving in country. No amount of thanks will ever be enough.”
Rebber said the service of our military is what keeps the United States great, and any small way to show gratitude is the least we can do for the service they gave.
“As a part of the Vietnam generation, my friends and classmates that served were not thanked when they returned home,” she said. “There are several of my classmates on the banners, and I am so proud of their service. Hopefully, more will be recognized next year.”
Displaying these banners is just one way the DAR shows support for veterans, Ray said.
“They deserve our thanks, and I think this is a prominent way to show it,” she said. “It literally puts a face to the title of soldier, and it’s my hope that it instills a sense of pride in the community to know that those men and women are one of us.”
The fees collected covered the development and production of the banners. Ray said any additional funds will be used by the chapter for other activities in the local community, including but not limited to cemetery cleanup, donations to food pantries and honoring DAR Good Citizens in the high schools.
Rebber said Fort Vallonia DAR is an organization that recognizes the service to our country from the Revolutionary War to those serving today.
“To be able to lay wreaths during Wreaths Across America to supporting the Moving Wall coming to the county and remembering veterans in nursing homes and the community gives us an ongoing opportunity to say, ‘Thank you for your service,’” she said.
After Veterans Day, those who ordered the banners will receive them to keep.
“I hope the community will take time to say thanks to the vets they know and enjoy the beauty of the banners as they show the patriotism of Seymour and Jackson County,” Rebber said.
The plan is to continue to offer the banner project.
“We absolutely hope to be able to do this again next year and would like to expand to include Brownstown if possible,” Ray said.
Questions about the project can be directed to Ray by emailing [email protected] or calling 971-570-4544.