New 'Southold Salutes Veterans' Banner Program Set To Honor Heroes

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SOUTHOLD, NY —A new banner program,"Southold Town Salutes" is launching to honor veterans and military members — and celebrate their heartfelt service to the nation.

The Auxiliary of the Griswold Terry Glover American Legion Post 803 of Southold has partnered with the Town of Southold to honor veterans, active-duty personnel, and members of the reserve and National Guard by installing tribute banners on lamp posts on Main Road in the hamlet of Southold, beginning in May.

Each banner is individualized to honor a specific person with their name, branch of service, and photograph, organizers of the program said.

Community members are encouraged to sponsor a veteran, living or deceased. Banner space is limited, so applicants must contact the Auxiliary at southoldtownsalutes@gmail.com before submitting an application and check. The cost to sponsor a banner is $225.

The 19" x 37" banners will hang annually from lamp posts in Southold, from May in celebration of Memorial Day to November in observance of Veterans Day, organizers said.

The application process will open annually, allowing new individuals an opportunity to sponsor a veteran. Banners from previous years may be rotated into display, depending on the number of new banners hung each year, or sponsors may take the banners home.

The first banner honors local veteran, George Robert Sullivan, U.S. Marine Corps, who served during the Vietnam War. This tribute banner can be seen hanging in front of Southold Town Hall.

"It is a great tribute to memorialize a Southold Town Vietnam War hero and former community elected official who was our town tax receiver for many years. I feel it is proper and important that George Robert Sullivan be the first veteran to be selected and honored in the Southold Salutes banner program," Dave DeFriest, commander of the Griswold Terry Glover American Legion Post 803 of Southold said.

"These brave men and women have put themselves in harm’s way to allow us fellow Americans to have the liberties and freedoms we enjoy. They have earned our respect, and we are excited to start this banner program to honor them," added Rose Anasagasti, of Southold's Griswold Terry Glover American Legion Post 803.

"Thanking the folks that put on a uniform for all of us is a priority for our town. It has been a pleasure to see ‘Southold Salutes’ become a reality with my friends from the Southold American Legion auxiliary," said Denis Noncarrow, Southold Town clerk.

For additional information on the program, click here.