Soledad honors veterans with new banners along Front Street

SOLEDAD, Calif. (KION) One-by-one, the names of 85 local veteran heroes were read off in front of a crowd in Soledad. Starting now, Soledad residents can find each of them posted proudly in the heart of town along Front Street.

"It's just warming to my heart to see this," said Jackie Skinner, the wife of an Army veteran.

Skinner looked at her late husband's banner for the first time, Wednesday. After his passing in July, she knew she wanted to find a special way to honor him and his years serving in the Army. This Veterans Day felt like the right time.

"We got some pictures and filled out applications. It's great to see how well they turned out," said Skinner.

A community group made the project possible and pulled together the plan in just three short months.

Organizer, Tony Virrueta, said it is a "first of its kind" project for Monterey County. They plan to expand it. "In phase two we will install an interactive computer where people can push on a name of the individual. It'll tell them exactly where their banner is at. It'll give them a little bit of history about the veteran," said Virrueta.

Vietnam veteran, Richard "Dynamo" Lopez, is proud to see his banner standing tall, among many others, in a place he has called home for all his life. "I hadn't seen a lot of these friends that I have that I went to school with. Now we're here together. I've been honored before, but it's nice having it here in Soledad," said Lopez.

If you're interested in honoring your loved on with a banner in Soledad contact militarybanners@cityofsoledad.com.