AVON — Avon’s Hometown Hero Banner Initiative was approved by the Avon Village Board on Monday night.
A small group of Avon citizens gathered in front of the village board on Monday night and proposed the implementation of the Hometown Hero banner program.
The groups speakers were Avon residents, Tim McGee and Anne Barrett.
The Hometown Hero Banner Initiative is a program that recognizes active duty military. The 24” x 36” banners feature a color photograph of the serviceman or woman, their name and branch of service.
“We would like to have them hung in place of the community banners the week prior to and the week following patriotic holidays and then be taken down until the next patriotic holiday,” said McGee.
In order to be eligible for a banner one must be currently serving on active duty in any branch of the military or having completed serving on active duty since September 11, 2001. Also one has to be a resident of Avon or have an immediate family member that is a resident of Avon or a graduate or former student of Avon Central School.
“We do not want to ask the families of the servicemen or women to fund the cost of these banners, we have ideas for raising funds with the help of our community through donations,” said McGee.
The estimated cost per banner is $80. Fundraising will be done through spaghetti dinner, pancake breakfasts, etc. All donations will be used strictly in purchasing the banners.
“The banners will be hung one year after being separated from the military,” said Barrett. The banners will then be given to the family of the serviceman or woman.
“From the time the applications are filled out there is a ten day turnaround for the banner to be made,” said Barrett.
“We have gotten a lot of support from the Avon Legion,” said McGee.
Many communities already have the hometown hero program in place like Spencerport, Mendon and neighboring communities, such as Lima and Honeoye Falls.