Saturday, October 3, 2026
Glen Cove residents will once again have the opportunity to honor local veterans and active-duty service members through the city’s Military Tribute Banner Program, now entering its fifth year. Sponsored by VFW Post 347 and the Tribute and Honor Foundation, Glen Cove Salutes displays personalized military banners on lampposts in Morgan Park, creating a visible and lasting tribute to those who have served the nation from Memorial Day through the fall.
The initiative was launched in 2021 by Lydia Wen, a city librarian and longtime volunteer, who said the program was born out of a desire to honor veterans who are often reluctant to seek recognition for themselves. “When I began the program, I learned very quickly that veterans are humble, and are hesitant to have their photos on display,” Wen said. “The community really has to act on their behalf.”
As the program reaches its fifth year, Wen said she is encouraged by both the community response and the momentum behind the initiative. “It’s kind of exciting to be year number five,” she said. “Prices did go up a little bit, but that’s to be expected since everything else in the world is going up.” Banner sponsorships will cost $115 if purchased before March 1 and $125 after that date. Wen explained that the modest increase is necessary as the program matures. “Only because in the fifth year now, the brackets might need replacing, so I’m trying to build up a little bit of a cushion in case some of them need an overhaul.”
Despite weather-related challenges in recent years, including heavy winds and snow during Veterans Day ceremonies, Wen said interest remains strong. “We’ve sold 40 out of the 92 banners in one week,” she said. Each banner includes the service member’s full name—often with nicknames—years of service, branch, rank, conflict served in, and space for medals. “You see names like Louie, Buzzy, Bartley,” Wen said. “It’s really cute, and it makes it personal.”
In addition to the banners, Glen Cove Salutes is sponsoring two essay contests aimed at engaging students in honoring veterans through storytelling and reflection. The middle school contest, “Liberty’s Torch,” invites students to write about lessons they learned from a veteran, while the high school contest, “Echoes of Freedom,” centers on audio essays. This year’s high school theme reflects the nation’s upcoming milestone: “The Spirit of 1776: How the Ideals of the Founders Still Shape Our Nation.” Wen said both contests now carry $300 prizes. “That’s really just to promote more oral history,” she said. “Go talk to someone in your family who served, or someone at the VFW or the American Legion. Just have a conversation.”
Mayor Pamela Panzenbeck said she has supported the program since its inception and continues to sponsor banners herself. “So Lydia came to me right around this time in my first term, and I said, ‘I absolutely support this,’” Panzenbeck said. She has consistently purchased banners honoring Dan Daly, a two-time Medal of Honor recipient, and Ralph Young, a local African American war hero. “As long as I can, I will always buy them their banners,” Panzenbeck said. “That’s the least I can do.”
Gaitley Stevenson-Mathews, co-founder and president of the Tribute & Honor Foundation, emphasized the emotional impact of the program. “For families, seeing a loved one publicly honored in the place they call home is deeply moving,” he said. “It’s a powerful reminder that their service is remembered and valued.”
More information on sponsoring banners or submitting essays is available at www.glencovesalutes.com.
