Remembering and Honoring Veterans and Active Military for Our City
5th Annual Veterans Recognition Banners
Each year, Edwardsville honors those who have served in the military with a regiment of banners displayed along multiple streets through the heart of the City’s business district. The Hometown Hero banners debuted in 2019 and have been enthusiastically embraced by the public; more than 170 banners were hung in 2023.
The patriotic-themed banners include a photo, military branch and the rank of the person being honored. The banners adorn the light posts in the City each year from the end of September through Veterans Day, which is observed on November 11.
The banners are placed in and around downtown on South Buchanan Street, Vandalia Street, Main Street and St. Louis Street. A street-by-street list of where each service member's banner is located can be found here.
How to Sponsor a Banner
Banner submissions for each year are accepted beginning in the spring. The registration process to sponsor a veteran or active military member for a banner includes:
- Filling out an online form to provide the honoree's name, military branch and rank
- Submitting a digital photo (high-resolution images with a minimum of 300 DPI)
- Paying a $100 fee (to cover the cost of producing the banner and the light post brackets)
Submissions for the 2023 Hometown Hero banner program closed on August 1, 2023. The City will begin accepting online submissions and payment for the 2024 banners on May 1, 2024.
CONTACT: If you have questions about the program or would like to submit in person, please contact Desiree Gerber, City Administration Office, at City Hall, 2nd Floor, by phone 618-692-7531 or email dgerber@cityofedwardsville.com.
ONLINE SUBMISSION (Link is inactive until May 1, 2024)
DEADLINE: Registrations and photos for the 2024 banners must be submitted by August 1, 2024.