Hometown Hero project to hang 38 banners in downtown Lincoln
Ceremony kicking off the new Veteran recognition project to be held March 16th

[March 12, 2019]   LINCOLN - Please note the original press release stated that the ceremony on Saturday March 16th would take place in Scully Park.  That has now been changed to Latham Park at the Band stand.  Start time remains 11 a.m.

The Lincoln Rotary Club partnered with the City of Lincoln to establish a veteran's tribute program to purchase and install banners with pictures of our local active duty service men and women, veterans, and deceased veterans.

Thirty-eight banners were purchased and will be installed around the square and in two local parks.

The banners will be hung in early March and the Rotary club will hold a ceremony to honor those individuals and their families on March 16th at 11:00 a.m. in Scully Park near downtown Lincoln. Sponsors and their families will be in attendance.

The program was inspired by Mrs. Carrie Pethy, mother of an active servicewoman who contacted the Lincoln Rotary Club and asked if the club would sponsor the program. 

After some brief discussions, a steering committee was formed and the City Council of Lincoln was asked to partnership. A Rotary District Grant was submitted asking for $ 2,000. The District Rotary Grant funded $ 1680 and with $1,000 of seed money from Lincoln Rotary Club, the details were put into place.

Sponsors submitted applications and a $50 fee to start the process in motion. The committee originally thought 25 banners would be the goal when they started in October. When the final order was placed we had thirty-eight banner requests approved.

It is the intent of the program to hang the banners for at least one year in the town square and in both Scully and Latham parks. The committee will begin accepting new applications throughout next year. Future applications can be picked up at City Hall.

When banners are rotated out, the present banners will be given to sponsors and their families. The Rotary Grant and the Lincoln Club's monies subsidized the full cost of the initial banners. Now that the grant monies have been expended, the new cost of submitting an application and sponsor fee will be$ 95.

The program has become a very positive addition to downtown Lincoln. The Rotary Club of Lincoln meets every Wed. at noon in the Lincoln College Evans Student Center. We're proud of Rotary, Lincoln College, and our community

The steering committee consists of Alderman Ron Keller, James Hamacke, Carrie Pethy, Don Jordan, Bill Gossett and current Club President, Kirby Rodgers

[Kirby Rodgers]