The Final Salute: Retiring Topeka's Military Hometown Heroes Banner Program

There are moments that remind you why programs like this mattered so deeply.
This photo captures the Gomez family gathered beneath the Military Hometown Heroes banner honoring PFC John Gomez in downtown Topeka. The balloons rising into the sky were released on his birthday, a moment of remembrance, pride, love, and connection for a family who simply wanted their father and loved one to be remembered publicly in the community he called home.

Back in 2017, the Military Veteran Project created the Military Hometown Heroes Banner Program because we believed our local service members, veterans, and fallen heroes deserved visible recognition throughout our city. At the time, no program existed in Topeka, so MVP built it from the ground up.

Families submitted photographs and stories of their loved ones and helped financially support the creation of the banners so their service could be honored from September 11 through Veterans Day each year in downtown Topeka.

Over the years, these banners became more than decorations hanging from light poles.

They became places where families stopped to take pictures.
Places where children pointed and said, “That’s my grandpa.”
Places where veterans quietly reflected.
Places where sacrifice was seen.

Today, as the Military Veteran Project officially retires the banner program and begins returning the banners to the families, emotions are mixed. There is pride in what was built together as a community, but also sadness knowing how meaningful this program became to so many families across Shawnee County.

David Gomez recently shared with us and expressed how much it meant to his family to see PFC John Gomez honored publicly in downtown Topeka. Like many other families, they hope the City of Topeka may one day revive and permanently support this for future generations of military families and service members.

Honoring those who served should never be temporary.

The Military Veteran Project is deeply grateful to every family who trusted us with their loved one’s story over the past decade. We are also thankful to the volunteers, community members, Downtown Topeka, Inc., and city staff who helped make these moments possible through the years.
While this chapter comes to a close, the memories attached to these banners will continue living on in the hearts of the families who stood beneath them.
As the Military Veteran Project works to return the Military Hometown Heroes banners to the families who originally purchased them, we encourage participants and family members to follow our Facebook page for upcoming return opportunities. MVP will be posting banner pickup dates, times, and locations under the Facebook Events section as they are scheduled.
Our goal is to make the return process as accessible and meaningful as possible while ensuring each family has the opportunity to reclaim and preserve this special tribute to their loved one’s service.

As the Military Veteran Project retires the Military Hometown Heroes Banner Program and returns the banners to their families, I hope every participating family knows this..

Behind every banner was a name.
Behind every name was a life of service.
And behind every life was a family who still remembers.

We remember PFC John Gomez, his service, sacrifice and the family he leaves behind.

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