Nikole Babb
nbabb@cherryroad.com

What began as a way to honor local veterans each year has turned into the hanging of 74 banners on Main Street in El Dorado.

Have you ever driven down El Dorado Main Street during a military holiday and wondered who was responsible for displaying the veteran banners? Do you have a military veteran, active service member whom you’d like to display? El Dorado Main Street has all the answers to these questions.

Each year banners displaying sepia-colored photos surrounded by red, white and blue coloring of veterans and active-duty service members fly on the electricity poles in El Dorado. The veteran banner program, which has quietly developed within the walls of El Dorado Main Street run by a small team, is taking flight faster than they imagined.

“We have never had to advertise this program,” said Craig Yaryan, El Dorado Main Street Volunteer and banner program coordinator. “People see the banners and want their own veteran or serviceman, or woman displayed.”

The program began in 2017 with just 16 veterans honored. Year by year, the banners fly high and attract more people to inquire about flying their own. Each banner boasts a photo of the military personnel, their name, branch, rank and years served, if all information is available.

All wars that the United States of America has been involved in are currently represented, including two that served in the Civil War. It isn’t just El Dorado veterans that are featured – anyone wanting to sponsor a banner and honor their service member, is welcome to do so.

The banners normally fly from Memorial Day through Fourth of July. Due to the construction and other complications, they will fly until the third week of August this year and again from November 1-30 for Veterans Day. Between those dates, the banners are replaced by welcome banners for Butler Community College and incoming Grizzly students.

Banner program volunteer Lewis Doan is known for door knocking to recruit banner sponsorships. This year he will be heading to Leon and Latham. He says this is his way to honor his father who served his entire career as a military man and others like him.

“My dad spent his whole life in the service,” said Doan. “So, you know, I’ve always kind of taken it to heart, but I never had the opportunity to do what I do until now.”

During the interview with the Times-Gazette, Doan received a phone call from a banner sponsor, who deeply thanked him for getting their banner set up.

“That is why I do it,” said Doan. “It means a lot to those who do this, and I love hearing how happy they are to see their banner.”

As Doan was set up at the Kansas Veterans Festival in El Dorado, a passer-by stopped by the booth and gasped when they saw their own banner on display. They grinned from ear to ear and stopped to take a photo with it.

Even if veteran photos aren’t in uniform, Yaryan says he can make it happen thanks to digital advances and photoshop. This way, all veterans can be honored in their military uniform.

“Because we want them in uniform the best we can,” said Yaryan. “It’s a very emotional thing.”

The banners from on electricity poles each year thanks to the help from Evergy, who put up the banners themselves. They fly on streets on Main Street from 12th St to W Kansas Ave and on Central from the N Porter St. to Topeka St.

Anyone interested in sponsoring a banner for their loved one can contact El Dorado Main Street by emailing veteranbanners@eldoradomainstreet.org.