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Date: 11/9/2023
WESTFIELD — When Chris Vancour, 66, travels through the center of the city, he looks up with pride, seeing his mother’s face on a banner honoring her for her service in World War II.
He had the banner made. It’s one of 30 posted on downtown light posts.
“Very rarely did she talk about her military service — a lot of veterans don’t say much. I’m trying to talk about it for her,” he said. “I’m proud of her service. She did it voluntarily. This is my way of saying ‘thank you’ to their generation.”
Westfield Veterans Services was on a mission last January to enlist 30 families who would sponsor banners saluting loved ones from the city who served in the past, or are now on active duty in the military. The banners have been on display since Memorial Day and are coming down just after Veterans Day.
A design firm in Florida made the banners. Sponsoring families paid $160 to produce each one. The 30- by 60-inch banners feature a picture of the veteran being honored, the veteran’s name, years and branch of service, and any commendations or awards received.
“I thought it would be a great way to pay tribute to our fallen heroes as well as men and women in the service now,” said Julie Barnes, the city’s veterans service director. “The city supports veterans in a number of ways, and this is just one of them.”
Vancour’s mother, Myrdie, died many years ago. She served during World War II in the Women’s Army Auxiliary Corps. She saw action in the Philippines during the Battle of Leyte Gulf.
As a WAAC, she was an Army commander’s driver. She also shuttled supplies to the troops. She earned the Bronze Battle Star. Vancour put that on the banner, along with a picture of his mother taken when she graduated from military transport school at the age of 22.
“She felt it was everybody’s duty during the war to do something. Everybody had to do their part. I’m proud of her dedication and I respect what our veterans and soldiers do today to defend our country,” he said.
When the call for banners went out last January, Barnes said the response was immediate and impressive. Spots for 30 banners were available. They were all sold, and the city had to start a waiting list. The banner program will return next spring, and Barnes predicted another strong showing.
“I’ve had people inquire when the applications will be available, so there’s already a lot of interest,” she said. “After seeing them up this year, people want to be part of it next year. We’ve had tremendous feedback. Everybody I’ve talked to loves it.”
Once the banners come down in the fall, they are given back to the sponsor families. Vancour plans to send his mother’s banner to the Military Women’s Memorial in Arlington, Virginia.
“This was an awesome way to honor my mother and the rest of the veterans,” said Vancour. “Only a small percentage of our population is in the military, and the respect they used to get is long gone.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring a banner in 2024 may contact Westfield Veteran Services at 413-572-6247 or westfieldvets@cityofwestfield.org. Applications will be accepted beginning in January.