Banner Project To Honor Veterans Comes To Van Buren

Oct. 04--In what officials say will provide residents a chance to honor veterans, the Hometown Heroes Banner program is coming to downtown Van Buren.

The project, brought to the city by nonprofit group Van Buren Original -- which was formed not only to assist in revitalizing and beautifying the downtown area, but also to encourage more economic growth in the city -- will offer residents, business owners and others a chance to sponsor a banner that will be hung in "high-profile locations" in the downtown Van Buren area and showcase and honor a specific serviceman or servicewoman who has served or is serving the country through military service.

"This will not only bring positive attention to the downtown area, but it will also be an opportunity to honor our veterans," said Rusty Myers, former assistant executive director of the Western Arkansas Planning and Development District and a VBO organizer.

Each red, white and blue banner will feature the name of the service person, the branch of service and a photo of the veteran or service member.

Myers pointed out that the service person being honored does not have to have been a resident of Van Buren or Crawford County.

"We see this as an opportunity to honor every veteran and we will gladly accept applications for any veteran," he said.

He said banners will hang year-round, but will be rotated. The banners, prior to rotation, will hang for at least two months of the year between May and December.

The rotating display of the banners will allow as many veterans as possible to be honored and banners will hang for the first time in May 2016.

Myers said the project is timely, with the city planning to break ground next year on Veterans Memorial Park, which will be built in downtown Van Buren.

"It is an exciting opportunity that will spill out into our downtown area," he said, adding he was hopeful the project will help provide a boost to the city's economy.

Banners will be available via sponsorship and corporate and private citizens will be encouraged to submit candidates for inclusion. The cost of each banner is $150. The number of banners being installed is limited.

Purchase will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.

Application packets may be picked up at the Van Buren Chamber of Commerce, 510 Main St., or at the Van Buren Municipal Complex, 1003 Broadway.

For information about the applications, call 474-2761.

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