By Kathleen Knowles
If you have been following Blue Water Healthy Living, you are familiar with the Blue Water Fallen Heroes Community Banner Project. The program was conceived to recognize and honor over 550 military service members from Saint Clair County killed in action from World War I to the current conflicts. These banners will include the service member’s picture, their branch of service, their rank, the conflict they were involved in, and the city, town or village they resided. The banners will be displayed the week for Memorial Day and the week after in the cities and towns where the hero lived. Target date 2021.
Those of you who have not heard of the program or simply want to know more about it will now be provided with a forum in which to ask questions. We will be accepting your questions which will then be answered directly by those involved in the project.
Some of the most asked questions:
Q: What is the purpose of these banners?
A: The sole function is for a public display commemorating each community’s human sacrifice while in the service to his/her country. Banners may be displayed on poles (if possible) on the main streets of any public area where each jurisdiction feels they would best represent each community’s sacrifices.
Q: When will these be displayed?
A: The projected goal is to have the banners up throughout the county by 2021, providing we can raise enough money. We know we won’t get all 550 plus photographs scanned but hope to have at least half of them done before we have them printed. The mission is to have them displayed for one week before and one week after Memorial Day.
Q: How much does it cost to have a photo scanned?
A: Absolutely nothing. If a person in possession of a photo cannot come to Port Huron, we have been known to make “road trips,” preferring to meet in a public place of the photo holder’s choosing. No volunteer will ever ask a family for money. If someone attempts to do so, close the door on them, or hang up.
Q: How is this project being funded?
A: Strictly by donations, fundraisers, and possibly grants. At no time will any family member be requested, encouraged, or suggested to make any contribution towards the scanning of a photo or the cost of a banner. The reason? Their family ALREADY PAID.
Q: If I wanted to make a contribution to the project, where would I sent it?
A: The community foundation of Saint Clair County is receiving all donations. Their address is 500 Water St. Port Huron, MI 48060 (attn: Nancy). Make sure that the memo line includes “Fallen Heroes Banner Project.”
If you would like to know more about the project and have a question, email your questions to ksknowles1@gmail.com.
All questions will be answered in a timely manner. Hotline 810-985-2007
Kathleen Knowles
Contributing Writer
