A lengthy list of gratitude

VFW members, other volunteers gather more than 2,000 signatures on banners to send to troops

By Kyle Johnson

People from the area came to sign a banner in support of our troops Sunday afternoon in the Columbia Mall. Members Darwin Windloss and James Tangen from the Northwood VFW helped volunteer.

One man's plan to show gratitude to Grand Forks Air Force Base and members of the National Guard's 188th Air Defense Artillery has produced a lengthy list of results.

John Hanson, a member of Grand Forks Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1874 and AMVETS, decided that a banner full of signatures was a good way to show citizens' support of area troops.

That original banner filled up quicker than expected, however, and has now split into two banners stretching a combined 55 feet, both packed with signatures. Hanson estimated that nearly 2,000 people had left messages and signatures on the paper banners, which will now be laminated and sent off to the troops.

"I had the crazy idea of doing a banner without really knowing what the response would be," he said. "I am just dumb-founded with the public response I have seen with this."

VFW members and other volunteers have been stationed at a kiosk in the Columbia Mall every weekend since Memorial Day, gathering the signatures and messages of support for the banners. The Air Force banner will now be given to the Airman and Family Readiness Center on base at a ceremony sometime soon, and the other will be sent to Afghanistan for the 188th's troops to see.

Hanson said the latter banner will be transported around Afghanistan for all 188th troops to see, and he is hoping to gather photographs of the soldiers standing next to the 41-foot banner.

"This has been great," he said.

Increased turnout

The past month has been particularly devastating to North Dakota's soldiers, a fact which has led to an increased participation with the banner campaign, Hanson said.

Spc. Michael Hermanson, 21, of Fargo, was killed in Iraq on May 23. Spc. Curtis Mehrer and Sgt. Travis Van Zoest, both 21, of Bismarck, were killed in Afghanistan on June 6 in an explosion that also injured Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Wicks, 39, of Bismarck.

"It's been real tragic lately," Hanson said. "We have had a lot of people come up to us at the mall and talk about that, and the public support through all of this has been great."

In addition to the red, blue and black signatures and messages of support scrawled all over the banners, artwork by veteran Roger Westerso is also included. "Together Then Together Always," the name of the drawing, shows two hands grasping each other, which symbolizes the link between the past and present.

"This is nice to see," said Jon Phelps, a member of the Grand Forks Air Force Base 319th Air Refueling Wing. "It feels pretty good."

Phelps responded to a message posted at the base looking for volunteers, and decided to show up Sunday to do his part. He said he was surprised with the high number of signatures, and was happy to see that so many people cared.

Holiday origins

Volunteers at the banner kiosk were also handing out miniature American flags to mall-goers that signed a pledge card saying they will fly the flag on Flag Day, June 14.

The holiday, officially established by an act of Congress in 1949, commemorates the June 14, 1777, birthday of the flag.

Hanson's plan to gather signatures was meant to coincide with the holiday because volunteers were already scheduled to be at the mall to raise awareness of the holiday.

Sunday was the last day to gather signatures, and the banners will now be sent off to do their intended work. Hanson said that the positive response he saw this year could lead to a new tradition.

"If the mall says we can do it again, you bet we'll be back," he said.Article 8 of 39; 219 words