About five years ago, Nancy Karmelich began noticing soldiers from the Joint Forces Training Base at the gym, restaurants and around the area.
She decided she wanted to develop a way to recognize them. She vowed once her kids were in school, she would do just that.
Karmelich and her daughters have been supportive of the base, attending hero ceremonies and waving American flags in honor of the soldiers who have given their lives for freedom.
After seeing signs and banners with “live, work and play” on them and liking the positive effect they had, she knew she had found the perfect way to support the soldiers: with the use of banners. She has done that with the creation of the Banners/Flags of Honor program.
Karmelich says the group’s mission is to raise money to provide patriotic banners on poles leading to and from as well as on the Joint Forces Training Base to honor and recognize soldiers for serving our great nation.
Karmelich, a stay at home mom, approached the City of Los Alamitos with the idea earlier this year. Staff was very supportive with Recreation and Community Services Director Angie Avery and Mayor Pro Tem Ken Stephens helping get the item on the council agenda and approved, despite the city not being able to give any financial support.
Karmelich then met with Joint Forces Training Base personnel to get their approval and ideas for what the banners should look like. JFTB officials were very supportive and came through with a number of suggestions, Karmelich said.
In a brief period of time, Karmelich has raised $1,800 from local businesses and a small amount in private donations from citizens who have heard about her cause and wanted to help. The response has been tremendous so far, Karmelich said.
The front side of the banners will have one of the military virtues such as courage, sacrifice, pride, duty or others on it. The back side of the banners will have phrases such as “Thank you for serving,” “Our freedom reigns” or “Because of soldiers like you.”
In addition, the seals of the six branches of the military can be shown in two sets of three seals each.
Single banners will be placed on the streetlights on Katella near the base. Pairs of smaller banners will be placed on Lexington on streetlight poles leading in and out of the base. Pairs of larger banners will be placed inside the JFTB gates, Karmelich said. Sponsor names will be placed on each banner.
Karmelich said she hopes the program takes off beyond the borders of Los Alamitos. “It’s not just Los Alamitos that the base affects, even though the base is located here,” Karmelich said. “These soldiers come from everywhere to do their training. They spend their money not only here but in Cypress, Seal Beach, Garden Grove. Those businesses need to get involved as well.”
Banners will be hung as monies come in for them, Karmelich said. Karmelich is trying to get the organization’s non-profit organization status together.
She is also trying to put the group’s name out in the community by getting a table at the Jewish Family and Community Services Walk at Oak Middle School on Sunday, April 25 from noon to 3 p.m.
Those wishing to donate can mail a check made out to the Banners/Flags of Honor account at U.S. Bank, 10942 Pine St., Los Alamitos, CA, 90720. For information on how you can help or donate to this purpose, contact Karmelich at (562) 896-3582 or by email at nkarmelich@aol.com.
