Sponsors needed for annual Veterans Park of Heroes display

Oct. 15, 2019 | Danielle Eaton
daniellee@thereminder.com

The West Springfield Lions Club is looking for people to sponsor flags for their annual Veterans Park of Heros display on the Town Green.
Reminder Publications submitted photo

WEST SPRINGFIELD – For three years now rows of flags have filled the Town Green in West Springfield both as a tribute to those who have served our country and as a way to raise money for a local scholarship fund.

The Lions Club, who hosts the Veterans Park of Heroes each year, is now looking for people, families, or businesses wishing to purchase flags in honor of anyone they know who may have served.

John LaDue, who serves as the chairperson for the display,  told Reminder Publishing the event began four years ago after he saw a similar display in Pittsfield and thought it was “a great idea.”

From there, he said “the Lions decided let’s do it, and it was a great way to honor the men and women [who served].”

LaDue said while individual flags cost $30 to sponsor, people can also purchase four flags for $100. There are also two different levels of sponsorships for businesses wishing to purchase flags, he said, gold and platinum.

Gold sponsors, according to the website, “will be identified with their name on the Sponsor Banner and up to 10 flags for their honorees.” While platinum sponsors, “will be identified with their name on the Sponsor Banner plus two individual signs and up to 10 flags for their honorees.”

All of the money raised through the display goes to a scholarship fund given out to a student from Hampden County each year. LaDue said there are only two requirements to apply for the scholarship, the student must live in Hampden County and have a parent or grandparent who is a veteran.

LaDue said that while the Lions host the event each year on the Green, it’s not just a West Springfield event. In fact, he said previous scholarship recipients have been from Holyoke, Westfield, and even Brimfield.

He said, “This happens to be the venue, the town was nice enough to let us use the green.” However, the display is not just a West Springfield event, “it’s a Hampden County event.”

The display will begin on Oct. 26 where LaDue said there will be an opening ceremony at 12 p.m. “They’ll be some speakers, some veteran organizations on the common,” he said. “If you’re a vet and need some information, you can come and get some information.”

The display will be on the Town Green from Oct. 26 until Dec. 1. Typically, LaDue said the Lions take down the flags “the weekend after Thanksgiving,” but they’ll stay up a little longer than usual as “Thanksgiving is late this year.”

After the display is taken down, each individual, family, or business that sponsored a flag will be able to take their flag home. Flags can be picked up on Dec. 1 from 12 to 1 p.m.

LaDue said the Lions Club is accepting flag sponsorship until the day of the opening ceremony. To order a flag visit https://www.westspringfieldlionsclub.org/veterans-park-of-heroes?fbclid=IwAR1X6OJtBQiLsyz4cLhzGP2wE8jil4fC5Ipw_ReCUMJEg7W3Uh8smiMDSsM. Questions regarding flag orders can be emailed to westspringfieldlions@gmail.com.

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