Many service people pass through Los Alamitos, across Katella and down Lexington, coming and going to the Joint Forces Training Base. After Monday, June 14, 2010, thanks to the efforts of a local organizer and various supporters, those service people might feel a little more appreciated. The public is invited to an unveiling ceremony at Laurel Park on Monday beginning at 6:00 pm, and any uniformed military personnel are invited as honored guests to join the sponsors for dinner at 5:00 pm.

This is the second significant project to honor military personnel in Los Alamitos in as many weeks. Thanks to the efforts of Megan Boyd, a junior at Los Al, the recently unveiled Los Alamitos High School Wall of Valor, will honor those alumni who have served. (See related story below)

The latest project is the idea of Los Alamitos resident Nancy Karmelich, and features banners which will be hung on light poles on Katella between the 605 freeway and Walker, down Lexington, and onto the Joint Forces Training Base.

On one side, the banners, measuring as large as 30” x 84”, will have words like COURAGE, HONOR, DEFEND, BRAVE, INTEGRITY, DUTY, RESPECT, and HEROIC. On the back will appear “Thank you for serving", or "Our Freedom Reigns" or "Because of HEROS like you" or the emblem of the different branches of the military. The sponsor’s name will appear at the bottom of each banner and phase two banners for installation along Katella are now being sold for $375 each.

Karmelich said “That money covers the cost of the two-sided banner, mounting hardware, and installation. And, there’s a little left over to cover Banners of Honor expenses.”

In addition to those on the city streets, there will be six special double banners installed on light poles inside the base. There is still time to purchase one of these six limited edition banners which will be different from those installed outside the base. One of these banners will be dedicated to each of the five branches of the military, plus the California National Guard.

Karmelich explained that due to military rules, the sponsors names for the banners inside the base will not be on these banners, but will be listed on the first banner outside the base.   These one-of-a-kind banners may be purchased for $500 each.

Karmelich founded Banners of Honor to Express the community's heartfelt appreciation for the service and sacrifice made by our military personnel. “I kept seeing military personnel in their fatigues around Los Alamitos—in restaurants, at the gym, everywhere I went—and I just wondered what we are doing to thank them,” Karmelich said. “I verbally would walk up to them and thank them.” She came up with the banners idea about six years ago.

The banners are entirely sponsored by local organizations. Karmelich told www.OC180NEWS.com “this is a non-profit organization and these banners are totally supported by citizens and organizations of the community. “Sponsors include Los Altos Grace Brethren Church, Los Alamitos Police Officers Assn, The Family Plumber, Support Our Troops and Grace Church Seal Beach, Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts Los Alamitos/Rossmoor, Boy Scout Troop 658, Small Space Storage, Cottonwood Church, Los Altos Brethren School, American Legion Post 716, American Legion Auxiliary, Jewish War Veterans, Post 595 H.B., 1st Marine Division, OC Chpt., Sons of the American Legion Squd. 716, Pollman’s Insurance, Acme Tax & Services, Walt Mitchell, Becki Brady, Mayfield Family, Thermo Power, McAuliffe Middle School, Dons Turf Motel, OC Professional Fire Fighters 3631, OC Fire Authority Benevolent Assn., The Evanoffs, Hult Family & Mackner Family, The Weavers, Banners of Honor for JFTB Men & Women.

Event details are:
Date: June 14th, Monday, Flag Day, Army birthday
Time: 5:00 -6:00 Courtesy Dinner to honor any uniformed military personnel and banner sponsors, food provided by local restaurants, such as California Pizza Kitchen, Macaroni Grill, Baja Fresh, and Katella Deli.
6:00 -7:00 Ceremony performed by Boy Scouts
Pledge Allegiance, Local school singing, Honored Veterans, Banners of Honor unveiled Where: Laurel Park, Los Alamitos, corner of Bloomfield and Katella

Karmelich offered her personal invitation to all military personnel to come to Laurel Park at 5:00 PM Monday, June 14 and be guests of Banners of Honor for dinner. “We are honoring them—this is what it’s all about—it is to honor the military that work and train at the Joint Forces base, any veterans, and any one in the military.”