Carbondale revamping Hometown Heroes, honoring city students' patriotism
Carbondale is honoring its veterans.
The city is in the midst of overhauling its Hometown Heroes Banner Program, retiring weathered banners for more than 60 veterans, said program administrator Michelle Poyer.
On Tuesday, Poyer and Mayor Michele Bannon also honored three Carbondale Area School District students who were the three local finalists in the American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Poster Contest, said Poyer, who is secretary of American Legion Auxiliary Unit 221 and the patriotic youth chairwoman. The students who placed first, second and third were: Bella Kelsch, McKenna Bogdon and Fallyn Hearst, who received $75, $50 and $25, respectively, Bannon said.
The poppy is a nationally recognized symbol of sacrifice worn by Americans since World War I to honor those who served and died for the United States in all wars, reminding Americans of the sacrifices made by veterans to protect freedoms, according to the national American Legion Auxiliary website.
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The top three American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Post Contest entries from Carbondale Area School District students on Tuesday. (COURTESY OF MAYOR MICHELE BANNON)
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The top three American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Post Contest entries from Carbondale Area School District students on Tuesday. (COURTESY OF MAYOR MICHELE BANNON)
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The top three American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Post Contest entries from Carbondale Area School District students on Tuesday. (COURTESY OF MAYOR MICHELE BANNON)
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The top three American Legion Auxiliary National Poppy Post Contest entries from Carbondale Area School District students on Tuesday. (COURTESY OF MAYOR MICHELE BANNON)
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Poyer set up artwork from 16 Carbondale Area School District students inside the Greater Carbondale YMCA last week, asking the community to vote on their favorite artwork. Auxiliary Unit 221 is the only local unit participating, Poyer said, adding that another local legion contacted her about participating next year.
Last year, the auxiliary held its inaugural poppy poster contest in Carbondale City Hall. This year, Bannon suggested they hold it at the YMCA.
'I loved having an art studio in the foyer of City Hall,' Bannon said, laughing. 'However, I thought that they were such beautiful pieces of art that I wanted more people to see them, so I thought a great partner for that would be the YMCA.'
They received 237 votes, which included American Legion members, Poyer said.
The three winners will now be forwarded to the auxiliary's district council, and if there are no other legions participating, they move on to the state level, with those winners then moving to the national level, she said. The national winner's artwork would then be made available for any auxiliary to use.
'My passion for the involvement of the children in our patriotic youth programs is to educate the students on what it means to be patriotic in America,' Poyer said. 'I want the children to learn and understand how the freedoms they experience everyday are made possible.'
For patriotic imagery decorating the rest of Carbondale, Poyer is working on the city's Hometown Heroes banners.
Carbondale first joined the Hometown Heroes program about a decade ago as part of its Route 6 Task Force, Bannon said. Work included developing the template for the program, the application process and the hardware to mount them on their Victorian lamp poles, she said. The Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce then took over the program, but last year, the city decided it would be best to go through the American Legion, prompting city officials to ask Poyer to be the administrator in the fall, Bannon said. Legion Commander Joe Dick and Senior Vice Commander Frank Lapka approved their participation to operate the program, Poyer said.
Each banner is double-sided with veterans on either side. The city puts them up ahead of Memorial Day and takes them down after Veterans Day, Bannon said.
When they retire a banner, they burn it during their flag-burning ceremonies, with the families of the veterans welcome to attend, Poyer said.
Carbondale has about 250 veterans on banners right now with the capacity for 500, she said.
The American Legion is now looking for donations to replace broken hardware, Poyer said. They are also accepting applications for reprinted or new banners.
Reprinting an already-designed banner costs $100, and new banners cost $175, she said. The application process was previously limited to Memorial Day through Veterans Day, but they will now accept applications year-round, Poyer said.
This is is the first time they have worked to revitalize the banners, which can be for living or deceased veterans, Bannon said.
'We don't want anybody to be disrespected, so if one side of the banner looks a little tattered, we try to take it down and get it replaced so that they continue to be honored,' Bannon said. 'It honors all the veterans for being the backbone of our community and the nation.'
To apply for a Hometown Heroes banner, email Poyer at alapost221@yahoo.com.
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