City, American Legion to honor Hometown Heroes 

by Emily Canning-Dean

Thanks to a partnership between the city of Brecksville and American Legion Post 196, local veterans will be honored and on full display throughout the city later this year. 

The Hometown Heroes program will feature banners depicting local veterans who served their country hung along routes 82 and 21 in Brecksville. 

“We have been in discussions with the mayor, and this year, we are looking at an initial count of 50 banners that will run east and west on Route 82 starting in the center of town and then some on Route 21,” said Joe Hallal of the American Legion Post 196. 

Hallal said applicants of first priority will be those veterans who are Brecksville residents and a member of American Legion Post 196. Second in line will be members of American Legion Post 196 who are not Brecksville residents, followed by Brecksville residents who are not members of the Post. 

“We are leaving some latitude and flexibility in the program while we see how many applications we get,” Hallal said. “Applications are open now and we have an application deadline of March 1. The banners will go up sometime in April or May and then they will stay up through November. We will take down the banners through the winter and store them.” 

Hallal said the first group of banners will go up on display in 2025 and 2026. After that period of time is over, each banner will be given to the individual veteran or the family of that veteran. 

Hallal said the cost of each banner is $150 and anyone who is interested in applying for a banner or has questions can call 216-759-1743 or send an email to htheroes196@gmail.com. Applications can also be picked up at the American Legion, 7400 Chippewa Road, Brecksville. 

Local veterans can apply for the banners themselves, but family members can also fill out an application to honor a special veteran in their lives. 

“On the city’s part, they are very generously donating personnel to put up these banners at the beginning of the season and then take them down,” Hallal said. “Mayor [Daryl] Kingston has been great to work with in this incredible opportunity and we are happy to have them involved in this joint venture with us.” 

Hallal said the American Legion has been in contact with other posts in the area that have similar programs, including North Royalton and Independence and said they thought the Hometown Heroes initiative was a good opportunity to honor local individuals who have served in the armed forces. 

If the community continues to show interest, Hallal said the American Legion is willing to offer the program for many years to come. 

“Right now, we want to get it off the ground and get the program established,” he said. “But it is something we would like to carry forward if the community is interested in it.” 

Hallal also invites the public to visit the local American Legion and learn about the programs they offer. “I think there are a lot of people who aren’t aware we have an American Legion Post here in Brecksville,” he said. “But we are happy to have people come and learn about the Post and become a member. We have done a lot of renovations and we installed a new commander about a year ago that is doing a lot of nice things with new events.”