Lake Havasu City will join other cities in America that have military banners to honor men and women who are currently serving in the Armed Forces.

The Lake Havasu City Military Moms and The Shops at Lake Havasu have formed a partnership to place the banners on property at The Shops. Full-color banners will be hung on street lights in and around the Center Court, and will feature a photo of each military member.

An example of a banner by Southside signs. photo courtesy Military Moms

Additional partners in the project are South Side Signs, who are producing the banners; Campbell Redi-Mix, who will install/replace the brackets and banners; and Sam Nichols Electrical, who will assist in replacing brackets and banners.

Michelle Misurelli, Senior Property Manager of The Shops at Lake Havasu, said she is excited about having the banner project at The Shops, saying, “The Shops at Lake Havasu are honored to support the Military Moms’ banner efforts to recognize the hard-working men and women of our armed forces.”

“When we were first approached as a potential location,” Misurelli continued, “our first thought was one of pure privilege and humility. Providing the host location to our local Military Banner program is the ultimate way to show our appreciation to those who are serving.”

Banners may be purchased by those residing in Lake Havasu for service members with ties to Lake Havasu, whether or not the service member lived in Lake Havasu. The banners will be for active duty members only and will be removed when members leave the service. The banner then will be given to the family.

“Military Moms are proud to be able to give our community a way to show our active duty military men and women that we support their service and sacrifice to our country,” Military Banner Project Coordinator Judy Lacey said. “It’s a very small thank you for all they do, but it’s from our hearts. These men and women are true hometown heroes.”

The program will also accept applications for banners to honor KIAs, those who were killed during wartime, in battle, in accordance with the Department of Defense’s KIA definition. A DD1300, Report of Casualty, is required. Those banners will be permanently installed.

The cost of a banner is $150. Photos of those being honored should be formal, with the military member in uniform. The photo submitted must be at least 300 dpi, preferably with the U.S. flag in the background.

The official announcement and dedication of the Military Banner Project will be made during The Shops at Lake Havasu’s USO Show on Veterans Day, Nov. 11, from 6 to 8 p.m. in the Center Court area.

Military Moms are accepting applications now, and the first banners will be installed near the Memorial Day weekend next May. After that, banners will be installed twice a year, around Memorial Day and Veterans Day.

Applications to purchase a banner are available by contacting Judy Lacey at 928-855-8470 or judylaceylhc@gmail.com. Completed applications, with checks, should be mailed to Military Moms, P.O. Box 2771, Lake Havasu City, AZ 86405. Photos should be emailed to judylaceylhc@gmail.com

Photo courtesy Military Moms

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