Powell Approves Hometown Heroes Banner Program
Here’s today’s Central Ohio update and why it matters to you.
Beginning next spring, the faces of local veterans and active-duty military members will become part of downtown Powell.
Powell City Council has approved a Hometown Heroes banner program that will recognize current and former members of the United States Armed Forces who have meaningful connections to the Powell community.
According to the Delaware Gazette, commemorative banners will be installed on city-owned utility poles throughout downtown Powell.
As a military mom, this one means more to me than an ordinary community announcement.
Service is not an abstract concept in our family. We have children who are serving or have served in the Marine Corps, Navy and Army. I also donate from every real estate closing to Honor Flight Columbus because I believe recognizing service should involve more than saying the right words on patriotic holidays.
This program gives Powell families a visible and lasting way to tell their heroes, “We remember what you did, and we are proud to say your name.”
What Is Powell’s Hometown Heroes Program?
Powell’s Hometown Heroes Banner Program will place personalized military banners on 43 city-owned utility poles in the downtown area.
Because each pole can accommodate banners on both sides, the program has room for as many as 86 tributes.
Each banner will include:
A photograph of the service member
The honoree’s name
The branch of the United States Armed Forces in which the person served
The program is part of a countywide initiative coordinated through the Delaware County Veterans Service Office. Other Delaware County communities participating in similar programs include Sunbury, Ashley and Radnor.
The Powell Veterans Committee will conduct community outreach, review applications and maintain the program’s records. The city will be responsible for installing and removing the banners.
Who Can Be Honored?
The program is intended to recognize both veterans and current military service members with a substantial connection to Powell.
An eligible honoree must be:
A current or former member of the United States Armed Forces
A current or former Powell resident, or someone with another significant connection to the community
Honorably discharged, if the person is no longer serving
The Powell Veterans Committee will evaluate whether an applicant’s connection to Powell qualifies as substantial.
That gives the committee enough flexibility to consider people whose relationship with Powell may extend beyond a current street address. Military families move. Veterans relocate. Parents may remain in the community after their children leave for service. A meaningful hometown connection does not always fit neatly inside a municipal boundary.
Veterans, current service members and their family members may submit applications.
When Will the Banners Be Displayed?
The banners will be displayed during two patriotic periods each year.
The first display period will begin seven days before Armed Forces Day and continue through seven days after Memorial Day.
The banners will return in November, beginning seven days before Veterans Day and remaining in place until seven days afterward.
That schedule recognizes several different parts of the military community.
Armed Forces Day honors those currently serving. Memorial Day remembers those who died while serving our country. Veterans Day honors everyone who has served in the United States Armed Forces.
Those distinctions matter. Each observance carries its own meaning, and the banner schedule allows Powell to recognize service across all three.
How Much Does a Powell Veterans Banner Cost?
The application fee is $115.
Payment is made to the vendor designated by the Delaware County Veterans Service Office. The fee covers the production of the commemorative banner.
Applicants will also need to provide:
A completed application
An appropriate photograph of the honoree
Military discharge paperwork, such as a DD-214, when applicable
The required $115 payment
Applications must be submitted at least 60 days before the applicable display period.
Powell City Hall, located at 47 Hall Street, will serve as an application drop-off location. Once the Powell Veterans Committee approves an application, it will forward the materials and payment to the Delaware County Veterans Service Office for final processing and banner production.
Because display space is limited, applications will be handled on a first-come, first-served basis if demand exceeds the available locations.
How Long Will a Banner Be Displayed?
Once approved and produced, a banner may participate in the program for up to two consecutive years.
After that period, the applicant can choose to renew the tribute, subject to the program’s current rules and available space, or have the banner returned.
Families should remember that outdoor banners are exposed to sun, wind, rain and Ohio’s sometimes unpredictable weather. They are meaningful commemorative pieces, but they are also working outdoor displays.
Why This Program Matters
Some people will see these as banners. Military families will see names, faces and stories.
Behind every photograph is a person who raised a hand and agreed to serve. Behind that person may be parents who worried, spouses who managed a household alone, children who celebrated holidays through video calls and families who learned to live with uncertainty.
Public recognition does not erase the sacrifices. It does remind the people who made them that their community notices.
It also gives younger residents an opportunity to understand that military service is not simply something found in a history book. The people who serve are our neighbors, relatives, coaches, business owners and community volunteers.
A child walking through downtown Powell may look up and recognize a grandparent. A family may see the photograph of someone they lost. A veteran who rarely discusses his or her service may finally see that chapter of life publicly acknowledged.
That is powerful.
Community Identity Is Built Through Actions
When people talk about why they love living in Powell or elsewhere in Central Ohio, they often mention schools, parks, events, restaurants and neighborhoods.
Those things matter. But the values a community chooses to display matter too.
Powell already honors military service through its Veterans Memorial at Village Green and its longstanding Memorial Day traditions. The Hometown Heroes program adds something personal by placing individual stories throughout downtown.
It says Powell does not view service as anonymous.
It has a name.
It has a face.
It has a family.
That is the kind of community decision worth sharing.
How to Apply for a Powell Hometown Heroes Banner
Veterans, active-duty service members and qualifying family members interested in the program should gather the required photograph, military documentation and application fee.
Applications must be submitted at least 60 days before a display window and may be dropped off at:
Powell City Hall
47 Hall Street
Powell, Ohio 43065
For current application forms, deadlines and program questions, contact the Delaware County Veterans Service Office or the City of Powell before submitting your materials.
The Delaware County Veterans Service Office can also be reached through Enrichment and Outreach Coordinator Kim Gilley at 740-833-2051 or kgilley@co.delaware.oh.us.
Requirements, fees and availability can change, so confirm the current program details before applying.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Powell Hometown Heroes Banner Program?
The program recognizes veterans and active-duty military members with meaningful connections to Powell by displaying personalized banners on city-owned utility poles downtown.
Who can apply for a banner?
Veterans, current service members and family members may submit applications. The person being honored must have a substantial connection to Powell. Former service members must have received an honorable discharge.
How much does a banner cost?
The reported application and banner-production fee is $115. Applicants should verify the current fee before submitting payment.
What information appears on each banner?
Each banner will feature the honoree’s photograph, name and military branch.
Where will the banners be displayed?
The banners will hang from 43 city-owned utility poles in downtown Powell. With banners displayed on both sides, the program can accommodate up to 86 tributes.
When will the banners be displayed?
The banners will be installed around Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, and again around Veterans Day. Each display period begins seven days before the designated observance and continues until seven days afterward.
How far in advance should an application be submitted?
Applications must be submitted at least 60 days before the applicable display period.
How long can a banner remain in the program?
An approved banner may be displayed for up to two consecutive years. Afterward, the applicant may have the option to renew or receive the banner, depending on the current program rules.
Is the program only for current Powell residents?
No. Former residents and people with another substantial connection to Powell may also qualify. The Powell Veterans Committee will review the connection as part of the application process.
Powell’s Hometown Heroes program is a simple idea with lasting meaning. It gives families a way to preserve a story, gives veterans the recognition they earned and gives the rest of us a reason to look up, read a name and remember that freedom has always had a cost.
Do you know a veteran or service member with a connection to Powell? Share this information with the family now so they have time to gather the photograph and service documentation needed to apply.
About Chrisi Hagan
Chrisi Hagan is a REALTOR® with the Collins Lassiter Group at Red 1 Realty, serving Columbus and Central Ohio. As a military mom and longtime community volunteer, she donates a portion of every real estate closing to Honor Flight Columbus and supports organizations serving veterans, active-duty military members and their families.
Red 1 Realty · 614-332-0342
Equal Housing Opportunity. Chrisi Hagan is licensed as a Real Estate Salesperson in Ohio, regulated by the Ohio Division of Real Estate & Professional Licensing.
