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Waterloo marks fourth year of Veterans Way banners, leaders urge continued support for veterans
Summary
Community members, volunteers and city officials gathered on Veterans Way in Waterloo to honor local veterans with memorial banners; Mayor Boosezen and U.S. Navy veteran Yolando Loveless called for broader participation and ongoing services for veterans and their families.
Waterloo — Hundreds of residents and veterans gathered on Veterans Way for a ceremony marking the fourth year of the community's banner program to honor local service members.
The program opened with the East High JROTC posting the colors and a community recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance, followed by remarks from an event host who thanked volunteers and partner groups for arranging the display. The host credited the Exchange Club of Waterloo, Main Street Waterloo and Experience Waterloo — and singled out Lindsay Peters and Sandy Somerfeld for coordinating and producing the enlarged photos used on the banners.
"Every banner has a name. Every name has a story," the host said, framing the display as both a remembrance and a teaching tool for younger generations.
Mayor Boosezen told the crowd the banners represent neighbors who answered the call to serve and stressed that "freedom is never free." He urged the community to back gratitude with services, saying local support should include access to health care, mental-health resources, housing and education for veterans and their families.
The mayor added that honoring veterans should extend beyond ceremonies: it requires ongoing support and recognition in everyday civic life.
Yolando Loveless, who described his service in the U.S. Navy, echoed calls for broader participation in the banner program and urged residents to nominate veterans for future displays. "Imagine if we could have all 5,000 represented along Veterans Way," he said, referring to his statement that the Garden of Memories cemetery contains more than 5,000 veterans.
Organizers said volunteers installed the banners earlier in the week and that local media covered the effort. Attendees were invited to walk Veterans Way, find relatives or friends on the banners, take photographs and share them on social media to help promote the program.
The ceremony concluded with additional thanks to veterans, their families and local veterans groups, including the American Legion, Amvets, VFW and the Blackhawk County VA. Organizers said the project aims to preserve veterans' stories and encourage continued community engagement.
