New Hometown Hero banners in Westwood
New Hometown Hero Banners were hung in June along Ash Street in Westwood by Feather River Blue Star Moms with help from CalNeva Broadband.
“The purpose of the banner project is to bring recognition to our service members currently serving. It is called Hometown Heroes because they are our heroes, serving our country to protect us, and we want to honor them by putting up these banners,” said Dianne Moore, a member of the organization.
The banners on Ash Street honor Kyle Easley, Air Force; Logan Gray, Army; Anthony Deal, Army; Victoria Kidder, Navy; and Andrew Timms, Marine Corps. Moore said families with children in the military can contact the Blue Star Moms organization to have a banner hung. The family supplies a photo for the banner and is given the banner when their son or daughter is discharged from service. The cost is $50 unless a family member belongs to the nonprofit organization. Mothers who have sons and daughters in the service can join as a Blue Star Mom while all other family members participate as associate members.
Forms for participating in the Hometown Hero Banners program are available online at featherriverbluestarmoms.org.
Blue Star Moms find the banners help to track those currently serving and they use the contact information to provide support through care packages sent several times a year. These packages include hygiene products, such as foot powder and deodorant, single wrapped snack foods, powdered drink mixes, batteries, handheld games and letters of support. There is a drop box at Plumas Bank in Chester where people can donate items for the care packages.
Once a banner is hung, the Feather River Blue Star Moms need families to keep them updated on the military status of their son or daughter in order to keep the project current. Also the organization needs help from utility companies to hang and maintain the banners attached to the poles. Often banners become twisted and torn by the wind and need to be untangled or replaced.
“We have the funds to replenish the banners as they are damaged but need someone to hang them on utility poles,” said Moore.
In Westwood the Hometown Hero Banners are hung along Ash and Third Streets. The project shows community support for the military, said Moore.
“It shows we are proud of our kids and gives the mom and dads of kids who are out there a sense of pride knowing their children are being recognized,” said Moore.
Also it gives youth determining what to do following high school an option to consider, she added.
The purchase and placement of banners honoring active military service men and women is only one project orchestrated by the Feather River Blue Star Moms, covering Plumas County and Westwood.
To learn more or to donate money for their projects, contact them at: P.O. Box 931, Chester, CA 96020; featherriverbluestarmoms.org; or [email protected].
