This holiday season not every Santa Clarita resident will get to celebrate with friends and family. Some of our bravest men and women will spend the season working, as they do daily, to keep our country safe and protect the freedoms we cherish. All of these heroes should be recognized.

The city of Santa Clarita’s Hometown Heroes Military Banner Program honors actively-serving military members from the Santa Clarita Valley with streetlight pole banners.

Banners can be purchased by individuals or organizations.

This program offers local friends and families of actively-serving military members an opportunity to have one streetlight pole banner hung in a major thoroughfare in their choice of Santa Clarita community (Canyon Country, Valencia, Saugus and Newhall).

Each banner features the military member’s photograph, name, rank and branch of the military they serve.

This holiday season, consider gifting a banner to the family of a local soldier or make a contribution to help families who can’t afford one.

“Our goal is that every local hero be recognized,“ Santa Clarita Councilman Bob Kellar said. “These banners are an excellent way to proudly share the names and faces of the men and women who serve our country and our community.”

To qualify, honorees must be active duty military personnel from the United States Armed Forces, must be a current Santa Clarita resident, or an immediate family member of a current Santa Clarita resident and have lived in Santa Clarita Valley at some point.

Thanks to sponsors, the banners are achievable for any budget, and full sponsorships are available. Each banner costs $417.50 plus tax, but thanks to generous sponsors, a special $100 discounted rate is available. Residents may add to that fund by donating this holiday season.

As an ongoing program, orders will be accepted at any time.

For more information, please contact Councilman Bob Kellar at bkellar@santa-clarita.com or visit santa-clarita.com/heroes.