How to Launch a
Local Legends Banner Program
A step-by-step guide to honoring your community's hometown heroes — from getting city approval to hanging the first banner.
A Local Legends street pole banner program is one of the most meaningful things a community can do with its lamp posts. Honoring veterans, first responders, educators, and community pillars — displayed proudly on the streets where they lived and served — creates a lasting tribute that residents stop to read, photograph, and share.
Getting a program off the ground involves a few key steps: securing approvals, raising funds, collecting nominations, ordering your banners, and coordinating installation. Here's how to navigate each one.
A well-run Local Legends program doesn't just honor individuals — it tells the story of an entire community's character, one banner at a time.
Your first conversation should be with your local government. Most municipalities require permits for street pole banner installations, and you'll want to present a clear overview of the program — its purpose, scope, the streets involved, and how installation will be handled.
The good news: most cities and towns are enthusiastic supporters of hometown heroes initiatives, particularly when external funding is involved. Frame the conversation around the community benefit and you'll find more open doors than closed ones.
Pro tip: While you're talking to the city about permitting, ask about funding and grants in the same conversation. Many municipalities will waive permit fees for community honor programs — and some will go further, offering free installation on city-owned lamp posts or even folding your program into an existing community initiative.
What to Ask Your Municipality
- What permits are required for street pole banner installation?
- Are permit fees waivable for community or veterans' honor programs?
- Can the city provide installation services at no cost?
- Are there existing community grants or funding programs this could qualify for?
- Could this be folded into an existing city beautification or civic pride initiative?
Once you have approval in principle, it's time to raise funds. There are several productive avenues to explore — and in many cases, a combination of sources is the most resilient approach.
Potential Funding Sources
- Municipal grants — Many cities have community beautification or civic pride budgets that this kind of program qualifies for
- Veterans' and service organizations — Groups like the Legion, VFW, or local firefighters' associations are natural partners and funders
- Corporate sponsors — Local businesses often welcome the visibility and community association that comes with sponsoring a banner
- Banner sponsorships — Families and individuals can pay for the banner honoring their loved one directly (see nominations, below)
- Community fundraising — Crowdfunding, service club support, and public donation drives can fill remaining gaps
Now for the most community-facing part of the process — finding the people you want to honor. Cast a wide net. The best Local Legends programs surface stories that organizers never would have found on their own.
How to Reach Nominators
- Social media posts and community Facebook groups
- Posters and flyers at local gathering spots — libraries, community centers, coffee shops
- Newspaper and radio ads (many local media outlets will donate space for programs like this)
- Outreach to veterans' organizations, fire halls, schools, and faith communities
- A dedicated page on your organization's or city's website
Encourage nominations for both living heroes and those who have passed. On your nomination form, you can also offer the option for nominators to sponsor their honoree's banner — covering the cost of the banner, hardware, and installation. This is one of the most effective ways to raise funds and generate community investment at the same time.
This is the easiest step of all. Throughout the process, work with your Green Valley Flags representative to determine your budget, the number of banners you need, and the hardware required — including bracket systems suited to your lamp post type.
You'll receive proofs for every banner before production begins. These can be shared with individual sponsors — whether they're family members, corporate donors, or granting authorities — for review and sign-off. Once all proofs are approved, your banners go into production with a 5-business-day turnaround.
This year for 2026, we are also offering these banners in America250 themes.
Pro tip: Every custom order at Green Valley Flags includes complimentary design at no additional cost. Bring us your photos, names, and service details — we'll handle the rest and make every honoree's banner look its best.
Installation requires a bucket truck and typically takes a single day for most programs. There are a few ways to coordinate this without it becoming a major expense.
Installation Options to Explore
- Local utility companies — Many will donate their installation services as a gesture of support for veterans' and community honor programs
- City public works — If the municipality has come on board as a partner, they may handle installation directly
- Local bucket truck contractors — Green Valley Flags can suggest qualified contractors in your area if you need to hire independently
A well-organized installation day — with banners clearly labeled by pole location and a volunteer crew on the ground — can move quickly and become a community event in itself. Consider inviting honorees' families to witness the installation of their loved one's banner.
Ready to Honor Your Local Legends?
Green Valley Flags has helped communities across the United States launch Hometown Heroes and Local Legends programs. Free design on every order. We're here to help at every step.
