Bernie Ramirez took over as president of the local Veterans of Foreign Wars chapter in July, and he’s already taking action with a new banner program aimed at active servicemen.
He is launching a program to seek out donations in order to have banners placed on the outside of the Veterans Memorial Building under posts that hang out, he said.
He said he saw other towns taking similar steps to honor active members of the military. Here, he said there would be about 40 spots available at the outset. He said he received a “great response” from city council members and the mayor.
“I wanted to start out small first,” he said of requesting banners for active servicemen.
He explained that the banners would hang on the building until the individual finishes serving. Then, the VFW would give the banners to those families.
Eventually, he hopes to possibly have the banners hanging along San Benito Street as a way to show the community honors its soldiers and veterans.
“I want to make a difference,” Ramirez said.
He hopes to have the first group of banners placed by Veterans Day in November. The VFW has plans to install banners twice each year, before Veterans Day and Memorial Day.
Each banner will include the individual’s name and branch of service, he said. The example he showed also notes “City of Hollister THANKS YOU For Your Service” at the top of the banner.
Mayor Ignacio Velazquez affirmed his support for the project in an interview with the Free Lance.
“I really like the idea,” Velazquez said. “I’m looking forward to them bringing it back.”
For more information about donating, call Ramirez at (831) 902-7811. Otherwise send donations to the Banner Program at:
VFW Post 9242
PO Box 99
Hollister, CA 95023
