2026 Hometown Heroes Banner Program

The deadline to order banners for the 2026 program has passed. We have closed the order form as all available spaces have been filled. Thank you for your interest.

If you have any questions, please contact Sarah Turpen at Bedford City Hall at (812) 279-6555 or email sturpen@bedford.in.gov

Bedford's Hometown Heroes Banner Program recognizes and honors the brave men and women from Lawrence County, Indiana who have served or are currently serving in the United States Armed Forces. Banners will be displayed along John Williams Blvd as a visible tribute to their service and sacrifice.

The Hometown Heroes Banner Program serves as a public tribute to the service and sacrifice of Lawrence County’s military members, ensuring their dedication to our country is honored and visible throughout our community.
Veterans List Active duty list In Memoriam list interest form for 2027 program
Display Schedule

The 2026 Program will be displayed May 4th - November 30th

  • Active Duty Service Member banners will be on display May 4th - November 30th
  • In Memoriam banners will be on display in a rotation. Each banner will be on display for a minimum of 8 weeks.
  • Veteran banners will be on display in a rotationEach banner will be on display for a minimum of 8 weeks.
  • Depending on participation levels and available pole space, banners could remain on display longer. This rotating schedule ensures that as many families as possible have the opportunity to recognize their loved ones through this popular community program.
Registration & Ordering Process
  • Families who wish to participate in the program are responsible for purchasing a banner at a cost of $100 and providing a photograph for production. Participants must complete the following steps: 
  • Complete the Online Application Form: Submit the required service member information and photograph using the program’s online form (below). If you do not have internet access to complete the form online, please visit Sarah Turpen, Business & Community Development Director, at City Hall (1102 16th Street) or Mikels Signs during normal business hours (3617 Washington Ave).
  • Submit Payment to Mikels Signs: Payment of $100 (per banner), must be made directly to Mikels Signs, the vendor producing the banners. This can be made in person at 3617 Washington Ave Bedford, IN 47421 or call (812) 277-0000
  • A banner space will be reserved only after the previous steps listed above have been completed.
Important Deadline
  • The deadline to submit the application, provide a photo and make a payment to order a banner is Friday, April 3, 2026.
  • This deadline allows adequate time for banner production, organization of display locations, and installation prior to the May 4 launch of the program.
Installation & Removal
  • Our city Street Department will coordinate the installation and removal of banners throughout the display season. Rotations for Veteran and In Memoriam banners will be scheduled based on available space and participation numbers.
  • Banners will be stored by the Street Department if families wish to have them displayed again the following year. Families may also request to have the banners available for pick up if they no longer wish to participate after this year. 
  • Participants are responsible for the condition of their banner throughout the duration of the program. Due to normal weather exposure, banners may fade, tear, or deteriorate over time. If a banner becomes damaged or significantly worn, the cost of replacement will be the responsibility of the participant. The city reserves the right to remove any banner that becomes unsafe, illegible, or excessively deteriorated.

IN MEMORIAM - 2026 Banner Rotation Schedule

In Memoriam banners acknowledge service members who are no longer with us. It does not necessarily mean that they lost their lives in active duty. ​ 
Each rotation will be displayed for a minimum of 8 weeks.

Displayed by May 4 

This specific display acknowledges the Lawrence County Vietnam Veterans who lost their lives in service, during the Vietnam War
David August Acton 
Dennis Opal Bolton 
Mark Stephen Bundy 
Delno Billy Collingsworth 
John James Corwin II 
Eddie Craig 
Dallas Dewey Cummings 
Harry Clinton Dorsett 
Charles Edward Duncan 
Larry Eugene Dyer 
David Everett Easton 
George Sherman Goode Stephen Carl Harrell 
Bennie Richard Lambton 
Phillip Edmond Lynch 
Jerry Dean Martin 
Lanny Joseph Norman 
Monty Douglas Prush 
Robert Lee Scofield 
Michael Stephen Smith 
John Calvin Todd 
Paul Edward Tolbert 
Richard Howard Walker

Displayed by July 13

Robert Bex 
Johnny Brashear 
Herschel Bundy 
Dewey "Dale" Chenault 
William Michael Embree 
Ronald Hackler   
Mel Hammel 
William Fred Harrell 
Michael Hayes 
Kenneth Hays 
Jim Inman 
William F. Kern
Jack Kimmel 
James R. Langley 
Billy Joe McDonald 
H. Cecil Miller 
Benjamin Neeley 
Bill, Frank, Greg, Joe, John O'Brien 
Claude Edward Parsons 
Jerry Quackenbush 
Gail Reynolds 
Roy Riggs 
Ellis (Red) Ritter 
Charles Richard 
JT Srygley 
James (Dick) Stigall 
Ricky Dale Strunk 
Roy VanMeter 
Homer Everett Walton Jr. 
Bill Wever 
Raymond Woodsmall   

Displayed by Sept 21

Larry Bailey
Russell Bates 
Bill Corey 
Steve Coulter 
Winford Dixon 
Paul Dorsett 
Larry Eagan 
Byron Feather 
Barney Gassaway 
William Hackney 
W. Clayton Holmes 
Buck Horner  
Philip Kern 
Wayne Kern 
Max R. Lane 
Robert M. Lee 
Ralph LuAllen 
Joseph McGill 
Ralph Mikels Jr. 
Emery Morgan 
John G. Morris 
Brady Morrow 
Frank Owen 
Wendell Phillips 
Charles E. Robbins Sr. 
Russell Wallace Shepperd Sr.
Paul Smith 
Phil Tatom 
Joyce Teter
Chester Tolliver 
David Tow 
Clayton Williams 

VETERANS - 2026 Banner Rotation Schedule

Veterans banners acknowledge service members from Lawrence County who are no longer enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces, but had previously served in the military.
Each rotation will be displayed for a minimum of 8 weeks.

Displayed by May 4 

Larry Blackburn 
Ron Bortner 
Danny Briscoe 
Zechariah Chaillanx 
Coleson Cummings 
David Daugherty 
Tyler Deckard 
Marty Denesha 
Jonnie Doane 
Chris Edie 
Corey Hall 
W. Clayton Holmes 
Michael Horner 
Cole King 
Megan Luersen 
Micheal McDonald 
Kim Morris Deckard 
Joseph Pridemore 
Robert Rhoda 
Neil Ritchey 
Brandon Snack 
Dalton Stroud 
Joshua Tolliver   

Displayed by July 13

John Adamson 
Gregory Allen 
Gregory Bault 
Bryan Beasley 
Chris Bell 
Brandon Brummett
Alaina Castellanos 
Gordon Rocky D. Cole 
Bart Dubois 
Kody Dubois 
Leland Dykes 
James Flynn 
Patrick Harlow 
Glen Hilderbrand 
Jeff Jackson 
Cathy Morgan 
Harlow Nathan Porter 
John T.  Pourner II 
Cory Sims
Steve Sons 
Danny Wagoner 
Ronald Wilson 
Richard Jay Wood   

Displayed by Sept 21

Larry Ashley 
Matthew Carlisle 
Reece Craig 
Merle Crane 
Cody Fields 
Larry Flynn 
Ronald Hackler II 
Joseph M. (Joey) Hall 
Ted Johnson 
Hugh King 
Debra Kirkman 
Jami Lee 
Justen Malott 
Clarence "Lou" Mezie 
James Scott Sproles 
Matt Staggs 
Hugh Lee Sullivan 
Gregory L.  Sullivan 
Jason Sweet 
Justin Turpin 
Paul Vester   

ACTIVE DUTY

Active Duty banners acknowledge service members from Lawrence County who are currently enlisted in the U.S. Armed Forces.
Our active duty banners will remain on display for the duration of the 2026 Program.

Nick Arthur 
Noah Bailey 
Abbey Bridges 
Kenton Carter 
Shane Chandler 
Trevette & Brianna Daughrity
Kaleb Figg 
Zaidin Flinn 
Garrett Flinn 
Ian Flinn 
Mason George 
Chandler Hayes 
Conner Kirkpatrick 
Zachary Maple 
Henry Matheny 
Konner McFall 
Isaac Mullis 
Dylan Prince 
Ryan Reed 
Evan Ritchey 
Evan Spoonmore 
Alex Terry 
Ky Turner 
Chase Wagner 
Zakkry Walls 
Ethan Wessell 
Collin Whittaker 
James W. Zumhingst   

2027 Hometown Heroes Interest Form

Contact Information

This is an interest form for planning purposes only. By providing your contact information, we will be able to notify you when the program ordering window is open for 2027. THIS IS NOT AN ORDER FORM, as program details are not yet finalized for 2027. The intention of this form is for NEW banners to potentially be added to the program. PLEASE DO NOT COMPLETE if you already have a banner in the 2026 program for the LAWRENCE COUNTY INDIANA servicemember you wish to recognize.
Please note, this is ONLY for individuals who have served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces that SPECIFICALLY LIVED or CURRENTLY LIVE in Lawrence, County Indiana. There is a customized banner production fee of approximately $100 per banner involved.
Active Duty = those who are currently enlisted in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces
Veteran = those who previously served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces, but are not active duty and are still living
IN MEMORIAM = those who previously served in any branch of the U.S. Armed Forces and have passed away. Please note, this DOES NOT mean that they passed away during active duty. This is a remembrance section, honoring friends and loved ones who are no longer with us.
Please note this is only for NEW banners. Existing banners in good condition (meaning those which were displayed in 2025 & 2026) are eligible to be reused in 2027. PLEASE DO NOT SUBMIT A FORM IF YOU INTEND FOR CURRENT BANNERS TO BE INCLUDED NEXT YEAR. This is only for NEW banners that are intended to be added into next year's program.