danbury hometown heroes banner program

honoring our heroes in the united states armed forces

helping to never forget

The Hometown Heroes Banner Program was designed to help communities never forget the brave men and women who have served and those serving our nation today.

honoring the military

Hometown Heroes banners were created to do one thing - To honor the individuals serving and those who have served and sacrificed in defense of our nation.

original program

The original Hometown Heroes Banner Program first displayed in Harrisburg, PA in 2006 with 367 banners the first year and 512 banners the second.

FAQ

If I include the $60 redisplay cost with the original application, will I be guaranteed a display location the following year?


No, there is no guarantee redisplay locations will be available the following year.  Redisplay locations may become available in subsequent years.  If there are display locations available, you will be contacted at a later date for payment if you choose on your application to have your banner redisplayed.


If I send in a check, will that reserve a banner location until I locate the proper documents?


No, the completed application, photo release acknowledgement, proof of honorable discharge, high-resolution photo copy, and check for $120 made out to City of Danbury Veterans Affairs must be submitted together in order to be considered for a banner location.
 

Can I email a scanned photo of the honoree?


Yes, if you already have a 200-300 dpi high-resolution scan of the honoree in uniform, you can email it to danburyhometownheroes@gmail.com.
 

If I don't have a photo of the honoree in uniform, will you still accept my application?
 

No, the Danbury Hometown Heroes Banner Program is only accepting photos of the honoree in uniform at this time.
 

If I send in an application after all display locations are filled, will my check and application be returned to me?


You will be contacted to see if you want to be added to the wait list for the following year.  If you choose to be added to the wait list, your check will be deposited to reserve a display location and there will be no refund.  If you do not wish to be added to the wait list, your application and check will be returned to you.
 

Can I choose where my banner will be displayed on White Street?


No, the banner sponsor cannot request a specific lamppost; however, you can request that family members or friends be grouped together if more than one banner is purchased.  The Danbury Veterans Affairs Office will determine placement of the banners.
 

Can I honor someone with a banner other than myself who is still living?


Yes, but they will need to sign the photo release acknowledgement.  We will not approve "surprise" banners.
 

Can I send in extra funds to help offset costs?


Yes, even if you were not honoring a veteran, donations to support this effort would be welcomed to help offset costs.  Please contact us prior to including any extra funds.  Profits from the program will be used to help support veteran services within the City of Danbury.


What size are the banners?


Banners are digitally printed on 18” x 36” 18 oz. blockout scrim vinyl (most durable and stable vinyl in the industry), printed the same on both sides.


Are there other banner styles to choose from?


No, only one banner style is being offered.  We have chosen a banner style that is most suitable for our program.


How many times can I redisplay my banner?


Banners can only be redisplayed once since they have a two year term service life.  If you want to have your banner displayed for a third year, a new banner can be purchased at a cost of $120.


How do I obtain my DD214 if I can't locate mine?


Please follow this link to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs website or contact Danbury Veterans Affairs Director Dan Hayes at d.hayes@danbury-ct.gov who may be able to assist you with obtaining your DD214.


Will I receive a discount if I purchase more than one banner?


No, there will be no discounting if multiple banners are purchased.


Can I purchase a banner using my credit card?


No, we are only accepting checks for payment at this time.


Can I add my Bronze Star Medal to the banner?


No, we will not be allowing medals, badges, or awards on the banners at this time.


Can I get a banner for my father, a Korean War veteran, if he used to live in Danbury, but now lives in Florida?


Yes, each banner will honor a specific Danbury service member whether a current or past resident of the city.


Will my photo be returned to me after it is scanned?


No, the photo you submit must be printed on photo paper and it will not be returned.  Please do not send originals.


Are you using a banner that will withstand the elements?


The banners are made from a high quality vinyl material with a 1000 x 1000 denier count.  They are a weave of two materials -- polyester mesh (scrim) and vinyl.  The polyester mesh provides the added strength.  It is the 1000 denier count in the vinyl material used in creating vinyl banners that adds the strength needed for the banner to resist outdoor elements such as wind, rain, and direct sunlight.  The vinyl material also has an integrated blockout layer which ensures that each banner is able to be easily read with maximum visibility.


Do you have a Facebook page?


Yes, you can follow this link to be redirected to our Facebook page.  Please like our page to get updates on what's new and future announcements.  You can also interact with other people on the page by sharing stories about your honored hero.


Will there be some kind of dedication ceremony for the banners?


A dedication ceremony was held on May 21, 2022 and can be viewed online at our media page.  There are no plans to have additional ceremonies.


Do you have a brochure with the information available?


Yes, you can click on this link to download our brochure.


How will I know if the information on the banner is going to be correct?


The information that you provide on your application will be verified with the DD214 and a proof of what the banner will look like will be sent to the email address that you provide on your application.  If there are any errors or omissions, please respond to the email with any necessary corrections.


Can I add POW to the banner?


Yes, POW (Prisoner of War), MIA (Missing in Action), or KIA (Killed in Action) may be added to the banner.


Can I get a banner for my father if he served in the Merchant Marines during WWII?


Yes, as long as he served on an ocean-going merchant ship during the period of armed conflict from December 7, 1941 to August 15, 1945.


Can I use the married name on the banner in place of the maiden name?


Yes, you may use the married name on the banner instead of the maiden name for the honoree.


Can I use the date of birth and date of death on the banner for the honoree?


No, the only dates allowed will be the service dates (ex. 1943-1945).


My father was in the Army Air Corps during WWII, can I use that wording in place of U.S. Army?


Yes, we will allow "Army Air Corps", "Army Air Forces", or "Women's Army Corps" to be used on the banners.


I would like to redisplay my banner.  How do I go about doing that?


In order to have your banner redisplayed, please click here to download the request form.  The form must be submitted along with a check for $60 made out to the City of Danbury Veterans Affairs Office.