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Lowell commission updates Hometown Heroes banner program; deadline, costs and display plans discussed
Summary
Commission staff reported a submission deadline for Hometown Heroes banners and described plans to install banners after Memorial Day. Members discussed eligibility, cost (current $100), the city’s installation capacity and an aim to remove fees going forward.
Commission staff briefed the Lowell Veterans Commission on the Hometown Heroes banner program, reporting a submission deadline this week and current plans to order banners and install them after Memorial Day.
Staff said five nominations had been received so far and that the city’s Department of Public Works (DPW) will install banners on existing poles (approximately 18 pole locations were discussed). The commission noted last year’s tight timeline, when DPW had only one week to install banners, and staff said the timeline was adjusted this year to give DPW more lead time.
Members described eligibility rules maintained by the commission: honorees must be veterans or first responders who were born in, live in or have served or worked in Lowell; nominators must provide contact information. The current unit cost discussed was $100 per banner, though commissioners expressed intent to find funding so nominees would not have to pay the fee in future cycles.
Commissioners discussed damage and weather concerns: staff said strong winds have caused occasional tearing and that damaged banners would be replaced and returned to families as keepsakes when possible. The commission also discussed the number of mounting poles (space for about 18 banners), and staff said they would confirm newspaper ad placements and finalize the web nomination page after Memorial Day.
A commissioner suggested expanding outreach and opening early sign-up for next year to increase submissions and create a candidate pool. Staff said they would update the commission’s web page, add a contact field for nominators (often different from honorees), and keep the commission updated on the order and installation schedule.
