Letters to the Editor
Letter to the Editor | Honoring our heroes with every banner
As you travel along Harborview Drive and Pioneer Way, look up. Hanging proudly from the light poles are the faces and names of men and women who have served our country, each banner displaying the branch of the military in which they served.
These are the Gig Harbor Veterans Banners, and they represent far more than a downtown display. They represent the heart of our community’s gratitude.
Each banner tells a story — a story of courage, sacrifice, commitment, and service. Some honor veterans who served decades ago during World War II, Korea, or Vietnam. Others recognize men and women who served more recently in Iraq, Afghanistan and other parts of the world. Each of them answered the call to serve something greater than themselves: our nation and the freedoms we enjoy.
The Gig Harbor Veterans Banner Program has become one of our community’s most meaningful traditions. Families, friends, and neighbors sponsor banners so that our veterans are recognized not only on Veterans Day, but throughout the time these banners proudly line our streets.
There is something deeply moving about walking through downtown Gig Harbor and seeing these faces — fathers and mothers, sons and daughters, brothers and sisters, grandparents, friends, and neighbors — all of whom have worn our nation’s uniform with pride.
The banners also remind us of an important truth: freedom is not free. Behind every name is a story. Behind every veteran is a family. And behind their service are sacrifices that many of us will never fully know.
These banners encourage us not only to remember those who served, but also to recognize and support the veterans and military families who continue to be part of our community today.
Gig Harbor has always been a community that values connection, compassion, and service. The Veterans Banners are a beautiful reflection of that spirit. As Veterans Day approaches, we encourage everyone to take a walk or drive through downtown. Look up at the faces. Read the names. Notice their branches of service. And take a moment to reflect on what each person represented on those banners was willing to give for our country.
To everyone who has helped make this program possible — the Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor, the City of Gig Harbor, community supporters, and especially the families who entrusted us with photographs and stories of their loved ones — thank you. Your efforts ensure that our local heroes are not simply remembered; they are honored and celebrated.
In a world that can sometimes feel divided, these banners give us something around which we can all come together. They remind us of courage, sacrifice, service, gratitude, and community—values worth honoring every day.
Most importantly, to our veterans and their families: thank you.
Joe Loya and Pat Schmidt
Gig Harbor Veterans Day Committee
To get more information on this program, go to: https://gigharborkiwanis.org/