Driving around Lancaster County, Bob Smith noticed something. Many of the towns surrounding Columbia had banners displayed, recognizing people who have served or are serving in the military. He wanted Columbia to honor veterans in the same way.
"It was on my mind to do this for a long time," he said of Columbia Hometown Heroes, a banner project he is spearheading with Roger Wallace. "Columbia, for a small town, has a high percentage of people who have served in the military."Banners may honor living or deceased veterans and any active-duty military personnel who have a connection to Columbia, Wallace stated. "It's for anybody with ties to Columbia. They could have lived here, worked here, been born here," he explained.
Smith said he's excited to see the project come to fruition. "Columbia has a deep history of military service, and this is long overdue as a way to honor that service," he remarked. "It's a way to honor the people who served and also to help our community understand why we have the freedom we have today."
Orders for banners may be placed by completing an application, which will be available at the Columbia VFW Post 2435, 401 Manor St., as well as at local fraternal organizations and a few businesses. Applications may also be found by searching for "Columbia Hometown Heroes" on Facebook, emailing ColumbiaHometownHeroes@gmail.com or calling Wallace at 717-805-1537.
MORE: