NORWOOD – The faces of Norwood’s veterans will soon line the streets surrounding Disabled American Veterans Memorial Park at Walpole and Berwick Streets. At last week’s Selectmen’s Meeting, Veteran Service Officer Derek Wennerstrand received unanimous approval to launch the first phase of the Norwood Military Tribute Banner Program.
The initiative aims to create a visible, community-wide tribute to those who served, replacing generic military imagery with the actual photographs of local residents. “I think this is really nice to be able to put faces—specific people from our community—that served,” noted the Board Chair, Amanda Grow.
The program is designed to be a “living” tribute, with banners displaying a veteran’s name, branch of service, photograph, conflict, and any received awards. Wennerstrand says the application website is expected to go live on February 9th and the first phase will be limited to 24 banners. In order to qualify, applicants must have an Honorable or General Under Honorable Conditions discharge status or be active duty Guard or Reserve members in good standing.
Wennerstrand emphasized a “first priority” for Norwood residents and veterans who were killed in action (KIA), missing in action (MIA), or died from service-related incidents.
Each banner carries a flat fee of $105, however, the community is already stepping up to ensure financial barriers don’t stand in the way of recognition. Notably, Gold Star families will not have to pay for their banners, as the production company, Military Tribute Banners, covers those costs. Additionally, local fundraising efforts, including contributions from the Walpole Fishing and Game Club, have already begun building a relief fund to assist families who may struggle with the fee.
“If someone comes into the office and they mention that they maybe can’t afford it… we’ll take that into consideration,” Wennerstrand assured the board. “Those funds are already in the military relief fund”.
Residents can apply through militarytributebanners.org, where a specific portal for Norwood will be hosted. For those who are not tech-savvy or lack access to a computer, the Norwood Veterans Office will have a laptop available and staff on hand to assist with uploading photos and service details by appointment.
The application window will run for eight weeks, with a firm cutoff of mid-April to ensure all banners are produced and installed in time for a planned unveiling ceremony over Memorial Day weekend.
As the program grows, Wennerstrand hopes to expand beyond the initial 24 poles, potentially moving into other areas of town once logistical hurdles with utility providers are cleared. -RD
