The City is giving residents the opportunity to honor their loved ones who have served in the military.
Starting this month, the Hometown Heroes Banner Program, spearheaded by Ward 4 Councilman Jeremy Dietrich, will decorate a section of Royalton Road from West 130 Street to York Road with large, vibrant banners displaying the names, branch of service and photos of those who have served in the military and have ties to North Royalton.
Measuring 2 feet by 6 feet, and designed and printed by Gearin’ Up, each banner costs $100 and will be displayed along the roadway for two years, Memorial Day through Veterans Day. Banners installed this month will have a “freebie year,” and be reinstalled in May 2022 for their two-year cycle, Dietrich said. Banners will be taken down each Veterans Day to protect them from the winter elements and reinstalled on Memorial Day the following year. When a banner’s two-year cycle is finished, the city will perform a special ceremony to retire the banner and return it to their loved one for safekeeping, Dietrich said. Banners will be securely stored and protected by the city when they aren’t being displayed on the roadway. Dietrich worked to spearhead the initiative after seeing a similar program in Independence.
“They say a person dies twice; once when their heart stops beating, and twice when people stop remembering them,” Dietrich said. “We encourage banners for anyone who has served past or present, in any capacity, and in any branch of service.”
Application forms are available through the city’s newly redesigned website, northroyalton.org, or by visiting City Hall, 14600 State Road. Forms outline photo requirements and permissions needed to display photos. Dietrich said 40 banners are being offered in 2021, with room for more in years to come. Banners are available on a first come, first serve basis, and 20 have been purchased as of July 21.
“I’d like to see the Hometown Heroes program continue to grow each year until it’s at every entrance into North Royalton,” he said. “We’ve started specifically with the West 130 intersection because it is a wider roadway, and the road poles are straight and in great condition.”
Dietrich said he wishes to thank the residents who helped and encouraged him in his efforts to start the banner program, specifically retired U.S. Army Sgt. Wally Ohler of the Veterans Relief Organization of Ohio, and officials in Independence who walked him through the steps to begin the initiative here.
“I have many family members and friends who served in the military, and I know many local veterans who deserve to be recognized,” Dietrich said. “Since day one getting elected, I’ve always wanted to do something like this to recognize our veterans. Covid slowed the idea down a bit, but I think the program will be highly successful.”
To learn more and for complete rules and details for submission, visit northroyalton.org or call City Hall at (440) 237-5686.
By SARA MACHO HILL
Contributing Writer