Ark Valley News - Banner project to honor vets

Area cities, such as Rose Hill and Emporia, say the project has been successful.

Banner project to honor vets
By Chris Strunk
Last Updated: February 27, 2020

A coalition of community groups and city government will start a project this spring to honor local military veterans in a public and colorful way.

The Valley Center City Council on Feb. 18 approved a memorandum of understanding with the local chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and Main Street Valley Center to participate in a Veterans Banner Project.

The goal is to fill the light posts in downtown Valley Center with banners featuring veterans with ties to Valley Center.

Council members were unanimous in their support.

"I have a feeling this is going to snowball," said council member Ben Anderson.

Marsha Huebert, who is a member of DAR and Main Street Valley Center, agreed.

"We have a pretty patriotic town," she said.

With the project, families are invited to apply to purchase banners, which will be personalized with a veteran's picture, branch and time of service. The banners will be hung on light posts each year from May 1 though July 31.

DAR agreed to handle the application process, while Main Street Valley Center facilitates the finances and the city provides the manpower and storage.

Huebert said other cities, including Emporia and Rose Hill, have implemented the project and they have waiting lists. Individual banners are expected to last about four years. Cost for a banner is $225.

The banners will be hung on the posts in the 100 and 200 blocks of West Main Street to start, expanding to East Main and eventually North and South Meridian as the project grows.

During the first year, the banners will be up from July 1 through the end of September, giving them exposure during the Fourth of July holiday as well as Fall Festival.

Currently, the city has 14 brackets that would accommodate banners.

The application process will begin immediately, Huebert said.

In other business Feb. 18, the council:

•Voted to receive and file minutes from the Economic Development Board's Feb. 5 meeting.

•Voted to renew a city property tax abatement for Safarik Tool Co. for 2020.

•Voted to sell the fire department's 2006 squad truck to the Stafford County Fire Department for $10,000. The city recently purchased a new truck.

•Approved a memorandum of understanding with Sedgwick County Emergency Management, Public Health Emergency Planning and USD 262 regarding procedures during community health emergencies.

•Approved a sludge-dumping agreement with the City of Wichita.

•Met as a land bank board and approved the sale of a lot in the Ridgefield subdivision to Leisure Homes.

Brendan McGettigan was not at the meeting.