Beginning today, Nov. 11, the City of San Fernando will be accepting applications for its banners program to recognize and honor local veterans by displaying their likeness, rank and branch of military service on banner that are placed on city street light poles.
The banners will be prominently displayed along Maclay Avenue, Truman Street and San Fernando Road beginning in May 2022, and will continue through November 2022. At the conclusion of the run, the banners will be given to the honoree to keep as a token of the City’s appreciation for their service.
Said applications must be submitted on or before April 15, 2022.
Nominations are accepted on a first come, first served basis. Those who have appeared before can apply again. San Fernando residents will be given priority, as well as veterans who have not yet appeared on a banner.
The $135 fee to create, display and retrieve the banner at the end of November has been waived for 2022 up to $7,500, the amount the City received from a grant for this year. If all of the grant funds are spent, the fee will be charged for all applications accepted after that, City officials said.
“These men and women have earned the highest level of respect and admiration from the entire San Fernando community,” San Fernando Mayor Sylvia Ballin said of veterans.
The program was inaugurated in 2019 with 13 banners to honor and recognize local US military veterans who reside (current or previously), or have a family member that resides, in the City of San Fernando.
Eligible military branches include the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, Merchant Marine, and Active Reserve National Guard.
This year, City officials placed 19 banners of military veterans on Truman Street, between San Fernando Mission and Brand boulevards, and Maclay Avenue from first Street to Fourth Street.
The 2021 banners will remain on display through the end of November.
Nominations can be submitted by the applicants themselves or their families. Application forms must include the nominee’s current or former San Fernando residential address, proof of honorable or general discharge, and a (minimum) 5” x 7” portrait-style photograph or digital photograph (300 dpi or higher resolution) of said honoree in their military uniform.
Photographs will not be returned. By signing the banner application, you give the City of San Fernando permission to use the photo for the banner and promotional/marketing materials.
Banners are limited to one per service member and require approximately two weeks to process and complete. If an application is not approved for any reason, email notification will be sent explaining the reason.
Each year the city redesigns how the banners will look, which is why persons or families must apply or reapply annually.
Installation, location and removal of the banners are at the City’s discretion. The City is not responsible for lost or stolen banners, or repairs to the banners should they be damaged due to inclement weather or other damage aside from normal manufacturer warranty.
For more information, contact the Recreation and Community Services Department at (818) 898-1290 or visit Recreation@sfcity.org.