Manhattan Honors Veterans with Banner Program

By Stephanie Irvine

Manhattan American Legion Post 935, in cooperation with the Village of Manhattan, will honor Manhattan veterans with the Hometown Heroes banner program. Applications for a limited number of banners are being accepted through April 30. The banner program, which is new to the village this year, will feature a photo of the veteran, along with their name and branch of service.

“The Mayor approached the commander, and then we sat down,” said Bob Angone with the Manhattan Post, explaining how the project came to be. Angone is the Legion member tasked with handling incoming applications, and he also currently serves as the vice president of the Will County Veterans Assistance Commission.

“When I saw the light poles put up, it was the perfect opportunity, because there are two sides,” said Manhattan Mayor Mike Adrieansen. “That’s when I contacted (American Legion Post Commander) Bob Metzger, and he was super excited and started calling everyone.”

Adrieansen was quick to note although he was the one to approach the Legion’s post commander to put the idea into action, it was not a brand new idea and had been talked about before. He also brought up that neighboring towns participated in the Hometown Heroes banner program.

Throughout Manhattan, the Chamber of Commerce has had banners displayed on poles throughout town to promote businesses. The new light poles on Rt. 52 have two sides for banners, which made it possible for the Chamber to continue to have their banners, while also creating an opportunity to display the Hometown Heroes banners.

Anyone can purchase a Hometown Heroes banner to honor a Manhattan veteran; however, the veteran to be honored needs to be either a past or present resident of the village or township or a member of the Manhattan American Legion.

The cost is $125 payable to American Legion Post 935 and must accompany a completed application, official documentation confirming military service (such as a DD-Form 240; those discharged from service must have done so honorably or the equivalent), along with a high-resolution photograph of the veteran in uniform. Official requirements are listed on the application.

Banners will be placed on the new light poles on Rt. 52, as well as on Eastern Avenue at Baker Road and at Eastern and Smith Roads. A total of 18 will be available to be printed. Due to the limited number of poles, there will be a lottery held to fairly choose which applications are processed.

Applications can be found at the Manhattan Village Hall or downloaded from the American Legion Post 935’s website. Completed applications should be submitted to American Legion Post 935 by mail at P.O. Box 171, Manhattan, IL 60442. Interested parties also may submit applications by email at honor@americanlegion935.com.

Those who submit an application but were not chosen in this year’s lottery for placement will be given the option of having their money returned or having their banner printed at the current year’s prices and put into the queue for the following year.

The village’s public works department will handle hanging the banners with the American Legion taking care of the applications and processing payments.

“I think it’s great for honoring those, especially the Vietnam veterans, who haven’t been honored. They weren’t welcomed when they came home. I think it’s great we are honoring the people who wrote the blank check,” said Angone.

“When you sign yourself on to the military, you don’t know when you’re coming home. Even in times of peace, you don’t know what will happen to you. The people who join the service, they’re writing a blank check. That’s a saying that we have,” Angone explained.

Though the sample design of the Hometown Heroes banner bears Angone’s photo, Angone said he and other members of the Legion would like to see other veterans honored first.

“We have World War II, Korean War, and Vietnam War veterans, who served and should be honored,” said Angone.

“I think it’s great to acknowledge we have an American Legion Post in Manhattan, and this is another way to get their name out there,” said Adrieansen. He hoped it would spur membership for the local Manhattan American Legion Post.

After the duration of the display is complete, those who purchased a banner and had it displayed would be given the banner to keep.

The Legion and village hope to be able to have a dedication ceremony preceding the Memorial Day holiday. Details still are being finalized.

The Hometown Heroes banner program originally started in Pennsylvania in 2006, as a commemorative way to honor those who have served in the United States Armed Forces.

The Village of Manhattan joins the neighboring communities of Elwood, New Lenox, Peotone, and Manteno, which already have the banner programs in place.

Stephanie Irvine is a freelance reporter.