Goochland Launches Veterans Military Tribute Banner Program; Apply, Display, Pick Up Details
Goochland is offering free 24"x48" full-color military tribute banners honoring local veterans and service members; banners will be displayed along River Road West and 522 and returned to families after the season.
Goochland County has launched the Goochland Veterans Military Tribute Banner Program to honor local Veterans, Active‑Duty, Reserve and National Guard members with free 24"x48" full‑color banners displayed in town and returned to sponsoring families after the display season. The county lists Wendy Grady as the program contact for questions and retrievals at (804) 556‑5340 or wgrady@goochlandva.us.
1. Apply: who qualifies, cost and how to submit
The program honors local Veterans, Active‑Duty Service Members, Reserve and National Guard members; participation is free, “Sponsorship Rate $FREE per sponsored banner.” Applications are framed as sponsorship orders: the county repeatedly uses the phrase “submit your hero's sponsorship order today,” and it notes that “space is limited so ensure a spot by submitting your hero's sponsorship order today.” The county materials also state that “PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO NEW SPONSORS FIRST,” so new applicants should expect initial placement priority if capacity is constrained.
The county materials reference online account features and photo-upload workflows, residents can create a website account to “Manage notification subscriptions, save form progress and more,” and the vendor-style menus listed in the county materials include “Photo Upload” and “Approvals/Changes/Uploads.” If you plan to apply, prepare a good-quality portrait photo and the veteran’s basic military information (branch, rank or MOS as desired) because banners display an honoree photo and basic service details: “Honoree's Photo & Basic Military Information Displayed.”
Important deadline note: the county materials contain conflicting timeline language. March 1, 2026 appears both as an enrollment open date (“Enrollment for these banners will open on March 1, 2026.”) and as a submission deadline (“The deadline for submissions is March 1, 2026.”). Residents should confirm whether March 1 is the opening date, the final deadline, or applies to a specific cohort by contacting Wendy Grady at (804) 556‑5340 or wgrady@goochlandva.us before assuming either interpretation. The county main number is 804‑556‑5800 for press or broader county office routing.
- Tip: Have a digital copy of the photo and the veteran’s preferred name/family name ready before attempting an online submission to save time and ensure the banner reflects the family’s wishes.
2. Display: banner specs, routes, season and re‑hang policy
Banners are described as an “Attractive 24"x48" Patriotic Design” and “Beautiful Full-Color Banner Honoring Your Hero” that include the honoree’s photo, basic military information and the family name: “Honorees will be featured on a beautiful full-color banner with a patriotic design, the honoree's photo and military details, and the family name of the individual being honored.” Displayed units are full‑color, pole‑mounted banners intended for public visibility.
The program materials list the display route as the Town of Goochland along River Road West and 522 (Sandy Hook Road): “Banners will be proudly displayed in the Town of Goochland along River Road West and 522 (Sandy Hook Road). (Location subject to change without notice.)” The standard display window cited in multiple places is Memorial Day through Veterans Day; one item specifically references “Memorial Day through Veterans Day 2026” while also noting “(Exact dates subject to change without notification.).” Residents should therefore treat the Memorial Day–Veterans Day season as the program window while confirming exact 2026 dates with county staff.
Policy on returning or reusing banners: the county states that “Banners will be given to the family/sponsor after the display period as a 'Thank You' from our community.” It also includes a re‑hang note: “2025 SPONSORED BANNERS MAY BE REHUNG UPON REQUEST SPACE PERMITTING.” If you previously sponsored a 2025 banner and want it re‑hung, contact the county early to learn how re‑hang requests are handled and whether there are deadlines or fees; the county’s language on priority (“PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO NEW SPONSORS FIRST”) suggests re‑hangs are not guaranteed.
- Note: The materials include vendor-style menu items (photo scanning tips, pole banner brackets, shipping banners) and list militarytributebanners.org as a vendor contact (866‑670‑5552; Info@militarytributebanners.org). The county has not explicitly detailed the vendor’s role in printing, approvals, installation or shipping in the posted materials, confirm vendor responsibilities with Wendy Grady or the Department of General Services before relying on vendor timelines.
3. Pick up: post-display ownership and retrieval steps
When the season ends, each banner is slated to be returned to the sponsoring family: “Banners will be given to the family/sponsor after the display period as a 'Thank You' from our community.” For retrieving previously displayed banners, the materials direct residents to contact the Department of General Services at 804‑556‑5340. The county’s office address is 1800 Sandy Hook Road; P.O. Box 10; Goochland, VA 23063, and normal office hours are Monday–Friday, 8:30 am to 5 pm (Except Holidays).
The program materials do not specify the exact pick‑up location, identification requirements or whether the county will ship banners if sponsors cannot pick them up in person. Residents planning to request a re‑hang, pick up a banner, or receive a mailed banner should call the Department of General Services at (804) 556‑5340 or email Wendy Grady at wgrady@goochlandva.us to confirm the pick‑up address, required documentation, and any timeline for collection.
- Tip: If you cannot pick up a banner during weekday office hours, ask about alternate arrangements or whether the county can mail the banner (the materials list vendor shipping pages, but county handling is not explicit).
- Program name: Goochland Veterans Military Tribute Banner Program (also referenced as Military Tribute Banner Program)
- Launched: announced November 11, 2024
- Banner size/design: 24" x 48", full‑color patriotic design, includes photo, military info and family name
- Display locations: River Road West and 522 (Sandy Hook Road), (Location subject to change without notice.)
- Display window: Memorial Day through Veterans Day (one source cites Memorial Day through Veterans Day 2026; exact dates subject to change without notification)
- Cost: Free to veterans’ families (“Sponsorship Rate $FREE per sponsored banner”)
- Priority: “PRIORITY WILL BE GIVEN TO NEW SPONSORS FIRST.”
- Contact: Wendy Grady, (804) 556‑5340 • wgrady@goochlandva.us; Department of General Services for retrieval (804) 556‑5340; County main 804‑556‑5800
Quick facts (at a glance)
- Whether March 1, 2026 is the program’s enrollment open date, a final submission deadline, or applies to a different year, the county materials present both uses of that date.
- Exact start and end dates for the 2026 display season between Memorial Day and Veterans Day, and whether 2026 is definitive.
- Final display route confirmation and whether additional roads will be included beyond River Road West and 522.
- Whether the county is using militarytributebanners.org or another vendor for printing, approvals, installation and shipping, and what that vendor’s responsibilities are.
- Pick‑up logistics: where to collect banners, ID requirements, and whether mailing is available.
Outstanding items residents and reporters should verify
Sample names and program copy that appeared in county materials The materials include a block of surnames (Sharpless; Dalton; Fontenot; Rivera; Lyle; Isenhour; Thurston; East; Cunningham; Adams; Sainsbury; Sainsbury; Creasey; Agnew; Ferguson; Rapalee; Spoonhower; Ware; Page; Christy) presented without context. If you recognize a family name on that list and want confirmation of an honoree’s inclusion, contact Wendy Grady.
Pull lines the county uses “Beautiful Full-Color Banner Honoring Your Hero.” “Attractive 24"x48" Patriotic Design.” “Honoree's Photo & Basic Military Information Displayed.” “Banners will be given to the family/sponsor after the display period as a 'Thank You' from our community.”
If you plan to apply, organize a clear photo and the veteran’s service details, call Wendy Grady at (804) 556‑5340 to confirm the application window and pick‑up steps, and expect banners to appear in town along River Road West and 522 from Memorial Day through Veterans Day unless the county issues a different schedule.
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